Hello!

My name is Lejla Music and I am honored to participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2020 Students of the Year program. As a candidate, alongside many other high schoolers in the United States, we have chosen to dedicate ourselves to this 7-week initiative in order to spread awareness for those who have been impacted by blood cancer and advocate for them, as well as raising the money needed in order to not only fund research to find a cure, but also to enhance their quality of life. This 7-week fundraising competition will not only benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society but it will also bring attention to those who have been affected by blood cancers and make sure that they can continue to be happy and healthy.

I have named my campaign "Lejla for Life" because I'm a firm believer in the fact that everyone should be able to accomplish their dreams and live a happy and healthy life, no matter what obstacle they encounter. By particpating in the Students of the Year program, I have been given the chance to spread awareness for those who may not have the opportunity to live fully because of a hardship such as being impacted by blood cancer. Not only am I ecstatic to be able to participate in such an amazing initiative but I am also fighting in honor of LLS's two honored heros this year, Maddy and Ryen, who have become best friends because of their connection with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They met right before starting kindergarten and because of their special connection they now call each other "blood sisters." After fighting through their similar battles, they are now two happy and healthy 9 year olds and living life fully. I am also going to be raising money in honor of my grandpa and grandma. My grandma passed away in 2018 and had suffered from numerous cancers in her stomach and other parts of her body and my grandpa passed in late 2019 after suffering from a variety of illnesses as well. For the few amount of times that I had visited them, they had always been so cheerful and caring and their grandchildren had brought them such joy and that meant everything to me to see them that happy. I want to dedicate my mission to them and by raising money that will go directly to LLS, alongside the other candidates, I hope that I will be able to make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer and their families as well. 

Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled. And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases. In fact, drugs first approved for blood cancers are now approved to treat patients with stomach cancers, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. But more needs to be done, every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes someone dies. We can do more. 

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS-funded research but will help provide critical information and support for patients, and support advocacy for laws to ensure patients can access the care and treatments the need. 

Please visit our website often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

Thank you so much and on behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, we appreciate your support.

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.