Blood cancer is a devastating reality that affects countless lives every day. In the United States alone, it takes a life every nine minutes—that’s around 157 people every single day. These are not just numbers; they’re mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends. No one should have to endure the pain and heartbreak this disease brings.

 We (Arianna Peper and Kela Ndoni) are honored to have been given the incredibly rare opportunity to help patients with blood cancers as a nominee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) St. Louis “Student Visionaries of the Year” challenge. We joined this program to make a difference, but it has shown us how deeply impactful this work truly is. It’s not just about raising funds—it’s about standing with those fighting for their lives, offering hope to families, and supporting entire communities. With hard work and determination, we believe we can create a future without cancer.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has invested nearly $1.6 billion in blood cancer research, making them the nation’s largest donor in this field. They have led breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics, and personalized medicine. These treatments, first developed for blood cancer, are now being tested for other cancers. While progress has been remarkable, there is still much work to do.

We have assembled a group of hardworking individuals to join Team Peperoni to help us raise funds. We are proud to lead our campaign team and work towards our goal to raise $150,000 during the next 7 weeks - January 17 - March 7th, 2025.

If you would prefer to mail your donation, please use the enclosed donation slip and pre-addressed envelope. Please make your check payable to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and print “Arianna Peper and Kela Ndoni -STL Student Visionaries of the Year” in the “Memo” section.

The deadline for receiving mailed contributions is March 7th, Please note: your donations are tax deductible. Help be part of the cure and help my team compete in the St. Louis Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. For more information, please contact us at teampeperoni.svoy@gmail.com.  For more information about LLS and Student Visionaries of the Year, please visit https://www.lls.org/student-visionaries-of-the-year

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

Thank you for your support in the fight against blood cancer!

Sincerly,

Arianna Peper and Kela Ndoni

Team Peperoni

2025 Student Visionaries of the Year Program