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.

My purpose for joining this campaign.

Although I have not personally been affected by a blood cancer I have a very close friend that has. Tyler Ralstin was diagnosed with Leukemia in December of 2017. He was hospitalized for weeks on end, constantly taking different medicines and therapies to make him better. During the times I visited him, he was never down or negative about his situation. Tyler is an amazingly strong kid who I look up to when I need the strength for anything in my life. Tyler is still with us today because of this society and the money that goes toward finding new medicines and therapies for people and kids like Tyler. Through all his hard fighting, determination, and relentless praying, Tyler was pronounced cancer free August 22nd, 2018!!

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 I thank you for your support!

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