Hello everyone!! I am incredibly honored and thrilled to be a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2019 Student of the Year campaign.

I am competing against many other Student of the Year candidates from different schools. Marquette has been known to have at least one student each year compete for SOY and fortunately for me, I was given this amazing opportunity to be that student, representing Marquette this year.

In my case, cancer is a word and a nightmare. As many of you may not know, my mom passed away from stage 4 breast and bone cancer. I didn’t know how to process this information. After all, I was only six years old when she was diagnosed  and ten when she lost her battle with this horrendous disease. Before her beautiful presence passed away, I made a promise to her that I would dedicate my life to helping those in her position.

Fast forward to 2019, I still hold onto this promise. I joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Students of the Year campaign in hopes of fulfilling that promise. I wish to help all the families who are going through the same tragedy I once went through. I hope you are willing to help as well. LLS has honored heroes named Oliver and Makeda, who are currently fighting Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), one of the most common forms of childhood cancer.  Whether you have a connection to a blood cancer or another type of cancer, we all want the same thing, to find a cure. Please remember that any help or donations to this amazing cause would be greatly appreciated. Even a dollar could impact this mission in many ways.

My campaign for the Student of the Year is about how much money I raise. For each dollar I raise, that is a vote for me and a vote to cure cancer. I have from February 15th until April 5th to reach my goal of raising $5,000.

These are some ways your can help toward this amazing mission

• Make a contribution - You can make a donation from this link or if you prefer to donate by check or cash (payable to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society office.)

• Participate in our Fundraising events - My campaign team and I will host several events during these 7 weeks. More information will be posted on my campaign website soon.

  • Hosting a 5k run, Krispy Kreme fundraising, etc.

• Spread the word - Please share this link to friends, family, collegues, social media, or anything you think would help impact this cause. I would greatly appreciate it!

  ​​​​​​​Thank you so much for your support, lets do amazing things!

Sincerely,

2019 Student of the Year candidate

I am 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. I am proud to be raising critical dollars in honor of 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(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.