Sadly more than a million Americans are fighting a daily battle with blood cancer, and every 3 minutes another person unwillingly joins the fight after hearing the words “You have cancer”.  Leukemia still causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20. 

My name is Maya Sekhar, and I am a junior at Cumberland Valley High School that has been given the honor to help support and make a difference for those living with blood cancers, by running a campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2023 Student Visionaries of the Year Program.  For this program, teams of students raise awareness for blood cancers, and also compete to raise money to help support LLS in its mission. LLS is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world without cancer, and since 1949, LLS has been using donations to fund life-saving cancer research, to support cancer patients and their families during treatment, and to raise awareness and provide critical advocacy efforts for these illnesses. 

LLS is near to my heart as it supported my best friend, Ady Machemer, while she herself successfully battled childhood Leukemia. When Ady was just 4-years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After enduring many chemo treatments, blood transfusions, platelet infusions, spinal taps, and countless months in the hospital, Ady was finally cured and she has been cancer free since July 25th, 2013. Ady inspires me every day with her optimism and dedication to give back, search for a cure, and support others currently battling these illnesses. I strive for a future where families will not ever hear the words “You have cancer”. However, if they do, I want to help ensure that patients and their families feel supported and are provided gentler, life-saving treatments so they can concentrate on healing rather than on logistics, bills, and harsh treatments, so they too can hopefully be cured like Ady. These are the reasons why my teammates and I are running our campaign to support LLS– to help find a cure. 

Now more than ever, cancer patients need hope, help, support, and YOU!  If beating cancer is in your blood, please join my teammates and I in our efforts to KICK OUT CANCER during our 7-week fundraising challenge between January 12th and March 2nd, 2023 and help me reach my personal goal of funding a research grant by raising more than $50,000. You can join us in our fight against blood cancer by supporting our campaign

Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible.
They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.

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

I am a visionary; I have a vision for a world without cancer, but I need your help.

This year, I’m proud to be a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, working to raise as much as possible for LLS’s mission.

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

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