My name is Tara Colburn and I am a junior at Charter School of Wilmington.  I have decided to follow in my mom’s footsteps and run as a candidate for 2020 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which select high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As many of you know my mom (Kim Londergan-Colburn) and her amazing team raised $46K when she ran for Women of the Year in 2016. This year myself along with my cousin Jordan Keomanikoth, a senior at Padua plan to exceed that amount with our campaign.

I am so proud to run this year by helping in raising critical dollars for LLS in memory of my aunt Tara Londergan-Kilian who lost her battle and Jordans grandma Norma “Mimi Long” currently battling MDS blood cancer. I never got the opportunity to meet my namesake, never got to experience her "sparkle" and zest for life.  With this in mind, the timing of this campaign couldn't be more meaningful to our family and friends as we crossed the twenty-year mark of Tara's passing.  What a better celebration of her like then to have her niece fight for a cause that is near and dear to her aunt.  Additionally, we are honored to be able to support Mimi in her fight to beat her cancer as she has been an amazing grandmother, aunt, mother and friend to us and so many of our teammates.  

Each dollar is a vote. The candidate team that raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student of the Year. Our mission is to not only raise the most money but also to bring continued attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!  Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients has 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.

We really are changing the face of blood cancer!

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 they need.

Visit my site often as we will be posting updates and pictures often. Visit our FB page - Tara's Tribe and Mimi's Miracles which will have continued updates as well.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support!

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