Hello! My name is Naomi Weaver and I am a junior at Greenwood Community High School. Recently, I have been presented with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of joining the fight against blood cancers. I have been nominated as a candidate for the Student of the Year fundraising challenge through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I could not be more excited to help make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, as well as help advance treatment options, and hopefully be part of the generation that finds a cure for blood cancers. I am proud to announce that my campaign team will be working towards a goal of raising $80,000 in only 7 weeks (January 20-March 13). I decided to accept this challenge after seeing first hand the difference that LLS is making in the lives of patients and their families. Some of you may know, my father, Matt, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in December of 2005. With myself being just over a year old, I did not understand what was happening at the time. However, over the years, it has been made clear to me how much of an impact LLS has had on my own life. LLS contributed money to the research that developed the drug Gleevec. Because of people like you, who had donated, my dad is now able to take a single pill each morning that has kept him in remission for the last 16 years. This year, while being a candidate myself, I hope to inspire others to create change, and encourage other high school students that we can make a difference. Today, I am asking you to join me in the fight against blood cancer. My goal is to win this challenge by raising more than the other candidates, and ultimately fight blood cancer. I have until March 13 to reach my fundraising goal, and every dollar counts. In addition to supporting my team, you will become allied with the world’s largest blood cancer fighting organization. LLS’s work is changing the lives of 1.2 million Americans fighting blood cancer. Any and all donations are appreciated, and all proceeds go straight to LLS to help fund more research and support patients and their families. Thank you in advance for supporting my team and I. You never know which dollar it could be that funds the research for the cure for blood cancers.

I have signed up to save lives with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and am working to raise as much as possible over the next 7 weeks. Every dollar raised counts as one vote for my campaign. The candidate(s) whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of Student or Students of the Year. Will you help me earn that title?
 
As you know, everyone wins when cancer loses. Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.
 
Many LLS-supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS-funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.
 
We really are getting close to our goal of a world without blood cancers!
 
All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.
 
Please visit my website often and tell 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