Atlanta Students of the Year
Caroline Redick | C2 4 C2
Welcome to Cailey & Caroline for Curing Cancer's Team Fundraising Page!
Please take a moment to watch the video down below- Fire with Fire. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has already funded groundbreaking discoveries due to contributions by people like YOU. Healthy cells can be infected with an HIV virus genetically-engineered not to cause diseases anymore, but that still retains the ability to reprogram the immune system to attack cancer cells. This treatment method just got FDA approved last August! Blood cancer research can be the gateway to curing other cancers. Blood cancer cells are generally easier to access than cells from solid tumors, making it easier to study cancer-causing molecules and measure effects of new therapies. That’s why almost half the new cancer drugs approved by the FDA in the last dozen years were first approved to treat patients with blood cancers! You can really see how influential your contribution to LLS-funded research is and how much of an impact it is making on the lives of patients.
Our Honored Hero
Alyssa Howell
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Survivor
At the age of 13, Alyssa was sent home from school with a fever. Knowing that it was flu season, she and her parents went straight to the doctor where she was initially diagnosed with strep and was given antibiotics to treat it. However; after having a fever for a week, they decided to return to her pediatrician. After a finger prick, her doctors knew something was wrong and decided to take additional blood work, ensuring that they would be in touch when they results came back. Later that evening, at 10:00 pm they received a phone call from her doctor and were told to go to immediately get to Children’s Hospital in Atlanta and that if they were unable to get there that night that he would need to send someone over to take her.
After arriving to the hospital, they were immediately rushed back to do more blood work and testing. On January 15, 2015 at 1:15 am, Alyssa and her mother were informed that she had AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). Her mom holding back tears, the doctor explained to Alyssa that she would be spending the next seven months in the hospital. She would miss the remainder of her 8th grade year and her days would be spent with blood transfusions, surgeries, and chemotherapy. While she initially laughed when the doctors informed her of her diagnosis, after hearing these things it hit her that it was no joke.
Alyssa’s treatments consisted of 4 rounds of chemotherapy. These rounds consisted of countless hospital visits, with stays including 3 nights in the hospital up to 7 full weeks in the hospital. Additionally, in the middle of her treatments, Alyssa learned that the chemotherapy had damaged her heart and that she was in heart failure, causing her treatment plan to change drastically. During her last stay, Alyssa became incredibly ill and had to stay in the PICU three times in three weeks on breathing machines; this stay was a total of 7 weeks.
Alyssa found strength in courage in fighting alongside the friends she made while in the hospital who were also battling cancer. Though she questioned a lot and struggled initially, she drew strength from her friends. As many of them passed away, she knew that she had to fight for them, confident that God would get her through it and that her friends would want to see her win the fight here on Earth.
Alyssa is currently in remission and has big plans for her future. She is a junior at Houston County High School in Warner Robbins, GA and plans on attending Auburn University and pursuing a degree in nursing, specializing in Oncology or Pediatric ICU in hopes of one day working at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta or St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Of her five friends from the hospital, Alyssa is the only one that survived. Because of this, she is incredibly passionate about finding a cure for cancer and uses her experience to drive that passion.
Alyssa’s survivorship is an opportunity to honor those who continue to fight, and those who've lost their life to childhood cancer.
Caroline's Story

In 2010, I was diagnosed with T-cell cutaneous lymphoma. My case was extremely rare, an isolated, solitary persistent growth, that was treated successfully by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I am fortunate to be able to say that I have lived a normal childhood; however, most children fighting blood cancers are not so lucky, constantly moving in and out hospitals for treatment. I vividly remember looking at a wall when I was at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where the letters of the alphabet were written out for kids to associate with words. Under the letter V, a child had scribbled the word vomit. Even at nine years old, it struck a chord deep within me that still resonates to this day because it is a reality for so many children.
This year, I am honored to lead a team with my friend, Cailey Doyle, for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student of the Year Campaign. For seven weeks, starting January 12, 2018, we will be competing with students across the country to raise funds and awareness in support of LLS’s mission to cure blood cancers and improve the lives of patients and their families.
I believe we can make a difference in these children’s lives through the LLS’s Student of the Year (SOY) Campaign. Leukemia still remains the number one cause of death for children and young adults under the age of 20 with cancer. I am writing to you today to ask for your support of our campaign and LLS’s mission. Last year’s Student of the Year candidates raised over $6 million dollars that went to support blood cancer research. 100% of your donation goes directly to LLS whose research has also resulted in successful applications beyond blood cancers. More than 40% of anti-cancer treatments approved by the FDA since 2004 started as blood cancers drugs, many funded by LLS, but are now also being used successfully to treat other forms of cancers.
I would be incredibly grateful if you would help us in the fight against cancer! Please consider donating by March 2nd, 2018 to our campaign. While we will be competing with other students, we will all be collectively achieving one common goal of making an impact in the fight against blood cancers. Our team fundraising goal is $30,000. We are certain that with collective support, we can surpass it. We thank you in advance.
Don't forget to check if your company does matching donations. Matching gifts can double your contribution to LLS!
Our Mission
We are honored to have been accepted to participate in the 2018 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 raising critical dollars in honor of a young patient hero, Alyssa Howell, who is currently in remission from a blood cancer. Each dollar is a vote. The candidate team who 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 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 and we need your help!
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 I thank you for your support!
For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.
63 Comments
Christina Pramudji
Good work!
Anonymous
Way to make a difference!
Rajneesh Sharma
Dear Caroline, you are leading a great initiative to fund raise in support of cancer research and cure. Hope your work inspires other kids and our support is with you for this cause! Keep up the good work!!
Brendan O'Marra
Good luck with your fundraising!
Tim Barber
Great work here Caroline and you should be very proud to represent a cause that you worked so hard to beat. You should be very proud.
Anonymous
Caroline Redick SOY
Parastu and Jamshed Dubash
You are making a tremendous difference! Thank you for the funds and the awareness you are raising! Good Luck Cailey and Caroline!
Darren & Stacy Horst
So Proud of your efforts Cailey.
Jenny Conway
Great work, Caroline! Good luck, girls!
Kathryn Bohr
What a wonderful and worthwhile cause Caroline! Good luck! Kathy Bohr
Daniela Chillemi
Go Caroline!!
Dolly Politan
I lost my father to multiple myeloma. Happy to help in the fight against cancer! Thank you girls for all you do. ~ Dolly Politan
Leon & Mary Wittmer
Caroline & Cailey: Good Work For a Great Cause.
Jennifer valli
Caroline, you are doing a great thing here. love jennifer and john
Ellen Kerr
Cancer has touched my family as well and we are happy to contribute to this worthy cause.
Kimberle Agle
Caroline - I work with your dad (at a different site, WKS). We met last week for the first time and he inspired me with your story and effort for LLS. I happy to help support your effort and wish you the best of luck in your endeavor ! We need more young people like you in this world! - All the best - Kimberle Agle
Robert Choquette
Caroline, I am happy to contribute to your cause. I am sure your grandfather is very proud of you. Bob Choquette
Mike & Ann McDonald
My sister Carol Clayton Ruff has CML - Chronic myeloid leukemia. We honor Carol - with this donation — a mother, sister, wife, friend, volunteer, doer of good deeds to others, always putting others ahead of herself. We are so grateful for the wonderful care she receives from the Winship Cancer Center at Emory Hospital.
Cricket Blaha
Proud of you both for your hard work! This is near and dear to my heart ❤️
Krista Elema
I am happy to support this important campaign, Caroline. Thank you for all that you and the other SOY leaders are doing to educate and help in the fight against blood cancers.
Craig Horneck
In support of Caroline Redick SOY Campaign
Allan Miller
Caroline, your grandfather's friends are supporting you. Thank you for your dedication to this worthy cause.
Kamran Baig
Good luck and thank you for your effort on this worthwhile cause.
Brian Ray
Good luck Caroline!!
Paige Van Lenten
Love you Caroline!
Jerri Temple
What a wonderful way to make a difference Caroline! Keep up the good work!
Julie Knapp
Hope you reach your Goal!
Ainslie Schorr
Good luck Caroline!
Amanda Trabant
Happy to have the opportunity to participate. Amanda
Taylor Greenwald
What a great way to make a difference - good luck!
Paul Colella
Fantastic work Caroline! Tell you dad hello for me. Paul Colella
Preston Seward
Caroline Redick
Dave Ryan
Good Luck Caroline. Best of luck in your efforts. Dave & Rita Ryan and Family
The Meibohms
All the best, Caroline!
Kristi Lodigensky
Thank you for you work on behalf of such a wonderful cause. Good Luck, ladies!
The Adkin Family
Way to girls! Such an accomplishment!
Rob Faulisi
Caroline, good luck with your campaign. I am happy to help you reach your goal for such a worthy cause! I am a friend and former member of your grandfather's team at GE. All the best to you in the future, Rob Faulisi
Casey Brost
Great job Caroline Redick!
Kelly Bauch
Great job Caroline and team. It's very inspiring to see young people pay it forward and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves! Well done!
Harmony Outdoor Brands
This donation is in support of Malini Doyle on behalf of Harmony Outdoor Brands.
Mei-Fang Shyu
Good Job Caroline! Wish you reach and beyond your goal! Mei
Donald Clute
I wish you all the very best in your up-coming charity run. It's a great cause!
Meredith, Dan & Family
Love to see how passionate you are about this. Thanks for inviting me to be part of your fundraising efforts. -Meredith & Dan
The Roussey Family
We love you, Caroline!
Checking
Dunes Beach Home Rentals is happy to support Caroline & Cailey for such a worthy cause..
Mahadevan Mani
In memory of my cousin Panjami who succumbed to acute leukemia at a very young age. All the best to the LLS research program. I greatly appreciate the efforts of my grand-niece Cailey Doyle and her friends in support of LLS.
Tom & Merni Libonate
Our nephew and our hero
Mary Berman
Great Job Caroline and Cailey!! So proud of both of you for your hard work towards this worthy cause. We are donating in memory of our Grandpa Murray.
Matt Wren
Great job Cailey!
Sheila Jackson
You’re doing a great job, Cailey!!
Richard Kirkendall
What a great cause you are supporting. -Rich Kirkendall, Immucor, In.
Melinda Miller
Best wishes on your endeavors, Caroline!
Wanda Redick
Great job, Caroline. Love, Meme and Papaw
Steve Benjes
This is to support Cailey Doyle from the Benjes Family.
uncle jody
You are wonderful... love uncle jody
John Morabito
These are remarkable people - it is no surprise that they have a daughter who is willing to work fantastically hard and move mountains for the people and causes she cares about.
Amanda Leekley and Family
Cailey and Caro, love what you two are doing! You are amazing, keep it up! Love you two!! - Mandy
Cal and Kim Petty
Happy to support Caroline Redick in her efforts to support LLS's mission.
Dottie & Hugh Head
Good luck with your fundraiser Caroline!
Fran Walker
Good luck on this great cause!
Karen and Tom Adair
Caroline, good luck with your Campaign!
Megan Wood
In memory of my grandmother who had Leukemia. What a great mission Cailey!!
Matt Fairbrook
Very proud of you Cailey! I hope this helps!