Together we CAN conquer cancer.  

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers. 

This year, I share the honor of being selected to participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign! From January 20 through March 9, high school students and their teams across Illinois compete to raise as much money and awareness as possible to help lead the steps to cure blood cancers. I am Nonoka Kubota, currently a junior at Lincoln-Way Central high school. I am writing today to ask you to support me and the LLS mission to cure blood cancers and help improve the quality of life of patients/families.  

I decided to join this program because I am intent on making a difference! Unfortunately, my grandma has had to battle against cancer for 10 whole years. She went through harsh treatments of Chemotherapy, sacrificed years of her life, and had to fight against many obstacles. Although, I was not able to recognize her sufferings when I was younger, now I truly am able to acknowledge the mental and physical toil that she had to endure. In today’s society, every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. That’s 480 people per day battling the #2 highest killer among children under the age of 20 (more than 33% of blood cancer patients do not survive five years after diagnosis). I strongly believe that this needs to change. From this program, I want to leave a positive impact on families who have been, will be, and are currently affected by cancer.  

Please consider joining me in this mission and together we can be part of the cure!  

I am working with several other Student of the Year candidates in Illinois and together we will each put our best fundraising foot forward in honor of all those fighting blood cancers. I am asking you today to join me in this ambitious campaign! I cannot complete this journey alone; I need every bit of your help.  

Your donation will allow LLS to continue funding lifesaving research and support programs for patients and their families. I believe that your support will instill hope among the patients currently battling against cancer. Learn more about LLS and its mission by visiting: www.lls.org. 

On behalf of all the courageous cancer patients and their families everywhere, thank you in advance for your generosity and support! 

Thank you so much,  

Nonoka Kubota