Dear friends and family, 

I am Jonathan Merlin, a former student at the Epstein School and a current freshman at Pace Academy. Last year, one of my close relatives was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. We are very lucky that the doctors at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory were able to catch it very early. We are blessed that the cancer has remained asymptomatic. Thank you so much for your support.

-Jonathan Merlin, 9th Grade 

Dear friends and family, 

I am Gabriel Kadoori, a former student at the Epstein School and a current freshman at Pace Academy. Unfortunately, my family and I have had numerous ties with cancer in recent years which have inspired me to join LLS and their mission to beat cancer. In the last year, my cousin, late aunt, uncle, and another immediate member of my family who prefers his/her name not to be disclosed have fought cancer. My cousin was diagnosed with leukemia a little over a year ago and is doing much better now, but still has a long battle ahead of him. My uncle was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2017 and is now cancer free.  Another immediate family member of mine was able to beat lymphoma in just three months in the summer of 2018. Unfortunately, my aunt died of lymphoma last March. I am dedicating our campaign to my late aunt, Dalia Kurt, whose life was cut short at age 66. Jonathan and I want to do everything we can to help LLS in their mission to ensure that other families do not have to go through the hardships that both of our families have, and I am sure many of yours have as well. Thank you for your support.

- Gabriel Kadoori, 9th Grade

We are honored to participate in the 2019 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. We are proud to be raising critical dollars in honor of a young patient hero who is currently battling or is in remission from blood cancer. Each dollar is a vote. The candidate team that raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student(s) of the Year. Our mission is to not only raise the most money but also to bring attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have 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.

Please visit our website often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

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

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