Six years ago my family was devastated when my older sister, Maya, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  I was nine years old at the time and now as a freshman in high school, I have been given the amazing opportunity to help families just like mine who have been impacted by blood cancer by participating in the 2019 Students of the Year program.  This is 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.  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.

My experience with being a sibling of a cancer survivor is that we always need to choose hope. But, I also know that hope is not enough, it is a jumping off point to take action to change the lives of people with cancer for the better.  My sister has chosen to make her cancer experience into something positive and I am following her lead. In the words of Christopher Reeve, “Once you choose hope anything is possible.” This is my mission. By raising money that will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding mission to find a cure and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, I hope to make a difference.

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.  But more needs to be done, every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes someone dies. We can do more.

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 share with friends who would also like to donate!

Beating cancer is in our blood--help us make a difference that saves a life.  

With much love and gratitude,

Emma, 2019 Students of the Year Candidate

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