I have signed up to save lives with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and am working to raise as much as possible over the next 7 weeks. My two co-candidates (Mary Linley Marshall and Sara Kennerly) and I have teamed up with 12 other team members to support LLS, gain leadership roles, and give memory/honor to our loved ones who have battled cancer in the past. 

I chose to take part in LLS as a way to bring honor to my neighborhood friend Charlie and in memory of my great Uncle Hal. I remember when I was younger and heard the term cancer, it never really sparked any emotion in me. But it was not until elementary school when I saw my best friend's brother battle Leukemia. He lost all of his hair and had to spend the majority of elementary school in the hospital. It was from then on that I knew the impact of cancer and how I wanted to help other children overcome cancer like Charlie. Although I have personally never met my Uncle Hal, I know he has left a big impact on the lives of many of my family members to this day. Hal was diagnosed with Lymphoma at the age of 60 and died only three years later from this disease. Hal once said, "very few of us behave the way we would if we truly knew that our time was limited". I think this quote is very impactful as our time here on earth is limited and we may never know when it's our last. I want to help those battling cancer as their time is unknown due to this life threatening disease. I hope that you help me on this journey to cure blood cancer by donating to my page! https://events.lls.org/ga/atlantasoy22/aellis

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives all around the world!   Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.

Many LLS-supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS-funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well. Please visit my website often and share with others who would prayerfully consider donating!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you so much for your support! For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org