We all know someone who is or has been affected by cancer, for me it is my Uncle Matt. My uncle fought against stage 4 B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This cancer he had was a lymphatic cancer, meaning it originated in his lymph nodes where all blood flows through. He was my age when he was diagnosed, just 16 years old. Matt was treated with about 3 months of chemotherapy and 10 weeks of radiation. Matt has been cancer free for over 16 years and supports The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. More importantly, thanks to treatment, I am able to know my amazing uncle today. I am fundraising not only in honor of my uncle, but also for those currently battling cancer so they may have a better chance, through scientific advancements, to beat this terrible disease.

This brings me to the reason for my letter. I have been nominated for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Students of the Year Campaign to raise as much money as I possibly can for blood cancer research. My goal is to raise $10,000 (and hopefully more) during the 7 weeks from January 8^th to February 28^th. This is where I need your help. Any donation, large or small, is your pledge to help me achieve the goal of a world without blood cancer. This money will support LLS’s mission to find a cure for blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients.

Your contribution will fund research like the kind that saved my uncle’s life. By supporting the many groups that are conducting research and spreading awareness, we can continue to make strides in finding a cure to this disease. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and considering supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I, it means a lot to me!