When I was eight years old, my 15-year-old brother passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a type of blood cancer common among children and teens. During that time, my family and I worked alongside various organizations, conducting bone marrow drives to help cure others. After a couple of years, we got busy with work and school and were less involved in the cause. 

Eight years later, I turned 16 and I was older than my older brother. I had a renewed desire to continue to raise cancer awareness and funds to help as many families as possible. I worked with an amazing team of students to conduct bone marrow drives throughout the Chicagoland area and have now expanded my initiative to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I am honored to participate as a team member for the 2020 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. With the help of many amazing donors, the money we raise will fund treatment, medicine, and a potential cure.

When my brother was diagnosed, he was faced with a life-threatening disease, and yet, I rarely witnessed anything but a smile on his face. No matter the trial he was faced with, he had an undying sense of hope and happiness. My mission is to carry that message on by empowering other cancer patients and raising the funds necessary to eliminate cancer. So I challenge YOU to join my initiative. Let’s raise the tools necessary to fight cancer. Join me by donating today.

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.