What is Students of the Year?

Anna’s personal fundraising page: https://events.lls.org/ga/atlantasoy22/akennedy

Kensington’s personal fundraising page: https://events.lls.org/ga/atlantasoy22/kfreeman

Students of the Year is a 7-week leadership development program, where we assemble a group of our peers to raise live saving funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)! From this campaign, we are able to learn so many qualities to benefit us as we move forward in life, such as business development, project management, presentation skills, and effective leadership!

Kensington and Anna were nominated as co-candidates for the Leukemia and Lymphoma's Students of the Year Campaign, and they are excited to be co-leading team Cure-Em With Kindness.

Every dollar raised counts as one vote for our campaign. The candidate(s) whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of Student or Students of the Year. Will you help us earn that title?

 

Why are we doing this?

This campaign is very dear to our hearts because blood cancer and other cancers have directly impacted our families.

In 2018 Anna’s dad's mom, her Mimi, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. She was devastated when she heard the news because her Mimi is her biggest supporter and cheerleader.

Thankfully, her Mimi had amazing doctors who tried many different types of treatments before they finally got the call that she was said to be in remission. This was such a happy time for Anna’s family, and they were all super excited! Unfortunately, though, about 6 months later, the doctors had found the cancer had come back, only this time it was more aggressive.

The doctors continued to try different treatments, but because of her age, they were limited to certain options. None of these options ended up working though, and in August of 2020 she passed away, a few days after Anna’s 16th birthday. This was super hard for Anna because there have been so many firsts that she hasn't been there for. She didn't get to hear Anna’s excited phone call when she got her driver’s license, or her nervous call when she started her first job, or even the call when she told the story about the first time she crashed her car.  She hasn't been there for any of them, which really hurts. 

However, Anna is so thankful for the time and the memories that she does have with her and that she can go back and think about them, especially when she is having a bad day. Anna know she is proud of her, so that keeps her wanting to be the best version of herself, in every way that she can.

What is really cool is that in the beginning of 2020, Anna was involved with this campaign for the first time as a team member. At the end of the 7 weeks campaign, there is a Grand Finale Celebration to recognize all the accomplishments everyone has made. Mimi was actually able to attend the Grand Finale Celebration with Anna, and it is one of her favorite memories!

Anna does this campaign for her, and for all of the other families out there struggling with a cancer diagnosis, and their battle with this awful disease. Anna does this campaign so that in the future, families won't have to go through losing and grieving of a loved one. Anna does this campaign so that in the future, cancer won't exist. She felt and saw the impact her loss had on her family, and she don't want anyone to have to go through that. 

We are also doing this campaign for Karissa Freeman, Kensington’s mom. In 2004 Karissa was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer while pregnant with Kensington. She had surgery and chemo while pregnant, and the doctors were ultimately unsure how it would affect Kensington, but they didn’t have the time to wait and decide. Today, Kensington is living an amazing and healthy life, while Karissa is cancer-free!

 

Who benefits?

As you know, everyone wins when cancer loses.

Thanks to your support, our efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. 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.

Amazingly, 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, targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.
 
We really are getting close to our goal of a world without blood cancers!
 

How can you help?

Every dollar counts!

All donations, of any amount, are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but also patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

If you are willing and able to donate, Thank You!

Do you know a company or business that may be willing to participate by contributing, purchasing a Tribute Ad in the Grand Finale Celebration program, or by being a Corporate Sponsor?  Please share this page with them or share our contact information with them. We would love to tell them more about the program, the amazing things LLS is doing and share ideas on how they can help.

Please visit our web page often to follow the progress of my campaign.

 

When?

Now!

The campaign runs for 7 weeks, starting January 9,^, 2022 and culminates with The Grand Finale Celebration on February 26, 2022.

Over the course of these 7 weeks, We are committed to raising as much money as possible and to bring awareness to the amazing work of LLS.

So, again, if you’re able and willing to help, please do so now.

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

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