After learning that every 3 minutes someone gets diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 9 someone dies, I accepted my nomination for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2020 Students of the Year campaign. I was empowered to carry on the legacy of Springdale High School’s commitment to saving lives. It is an honor to be a part of such an outstanding group of fellow students, but an even larger honor to be able to work for the patients, survivors and their families.  In the next seven weeks, I'll join select high school students in a competition to raise critical dollars for a young patient hero who is currently battling or is in remission from a 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 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. Last year alone, more than $2 million was raised by 400 high school students throughout the country. Being a candidate in SOY allows me to help raise money that could lead to cures for blood cancers.  The work LLS does is also uncovering treatments that go beyond blood cancer to help those with other cancers and even multiple sclerosis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases. Drugs first approved for blood cancers are now approved to treat patients with stomach cancers, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases

     Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled. This year LLS will begin raising $100 million to support this multi-year initiative, which includes: more pediatric research grants, a global precision medicine clinical trial, expanded free education and support services for children and families and driving policies and laws that break down barriers to care.

     We really are changing the face of blood cancer!

     Blood cancer affects everyone: rich, poor, young, old, white,

     black, etc. It has an impact on the patients' lives and their families.

     As a future physician, I want to start making a change now. Talking is just the first step acting is what counts. This is where you come in to change the game and lead others to find a cure once and for all.

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!

I’m ready to be a game-changer. Are you?

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