Dear Family and Friends, 

Our names are Grenelei Finderup and Abril Jimenez. We are extremely grateful and excited to announce that we are candidates for the 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student of the Year campaign. We will be running our campaign in honor of Rebeka Henkelmann, an incredibly strong, hardworking young woman.  

I, Grenelei Finderup, am a senior at Washington Union High School. I am very involved on and off campus, participating in activities such as dance, softball, volleyball, Health Youth Corps, HOSA, Health Institute, and link crew. I have also been a consistent volunteer at The Well Community Church in their student ministries. I am passionate about cancer research for many reasons, one being the hurt this disease has caused to my family. Three of the male role models in my family have suffered from prostate cancer. My uncle continues to suffer from this disease after the cancer traveled to his bones; he defines the odds. He has been through many experimental trials, all of which have failed. I believe that with your help, we have the ability to make a significant difference in the lives and families of cancer patients and their fight. 

I, Abril Jimenez, am a junior at Washington Union High School. As someone who believes in the power of collective efforts, I am reaching out to seek your support in this meaningful campaign. I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce Junior Board and was a student ambassador for the Marjaree Mason kNOw MORe program. I am also currently involved in HOSA and softball. I've developed a deep passion for enhancing the well-being of cancer patients and their families, this commitment has been intensified by the profound loss of a cherished family friend to lung cancer in December 2023, coupled with the ongoing resilience of her mother who is currently courageously battling leukemia. Every dollar counts and your contribution will play a crucial role in this endeavor. I believe that, together, we can make a significant impact and support the ongoing fight against cancer.  

We are writing to you today to ask for your support of LLS’s mission of beating all forms of blood cancers. Together with our team, WUHS Future Health Professionals, we plan to raise $200,000 in the 7 weeks from February 29th - April 19th. We know this is an ambitious undertaking, but we are incredibly passionate about this cause as we both know the impact this disease has on families and friends. Your donation is tax-deductible and goes directly to LLS which supports patients, families, and research with the goal of life without blood cancer.  

In 1964 when LLS started only 3% of children survived after being diagnosed with cancer, but now LLS has raised the survival rate to 93%.  Since 2017 LLS has helped 55 out of 65 blood cancer treatments be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The treatments that LLS is funding benefit non-blood cancer patients too. LLS funded nearly 85% of blood cancer treatments approved by the FDA in 2021, most starting as blood cancer drugs and are now being applied to other forms of cancer.  Everybody wins when cancer loses, so now is your time to help.   

Here are some different ways you can support us by making a donation of any amount. We are extremely honored to be a part of LLS’s mission and are extremely grateful for your support. 

https://events.lls.org/cca/svoyfresno24/twuhsfutur 

Thank You,  

Abril and Grenelei