On January 17th, we teamed up with the Miracle Workers of Middletown to host a collaborative event during the Oakdale Middletown basketball game.  It was so great to see these two communities come together to fight one common goal: curing blood cancers.  While I was very sad I couldn't personally be there due to covid, I was so glad that my other co-candidates and team members could be there, as well as everyone from team Miracle Workers!  We had a fun half-court shot competition during half time, and everyone had a great time!  It was exciting to bring these communities together and was a nice change of pace.  We're excited to do it all again tonight with team Fredco Fighters from TJ for an even bigger, more electric game!

You may be here asking yourself, "why should I donate to help find a cure for blood cancers?".  It's a fair thought, at first many people think that they don't know anyone affected by blood cancers.  However, blood cancers are a lot more common than you may think.  Every 3 minutes, someone in the U.S. finds out that they have blood cancer.  On top of that, 1.5 million people are either currently, or have battled blood cancers in the U.S. 

In April of 2021 my best friend, Marissa Ridell, was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  We were both 16 at the time.  I had to stand to the side and support her through a phone screen as she underwent treatment.  It's brutal for everyone and no one, especially not a child, should have to endure cancer treatment.  Why should life-saving treatment be so harsh anyway?  That's why LLS is here.  LLS strives to end blood cancers.  LLS offers support to those patients who are suffering, they lobby for more government funding and bills to pass that benefit those battling, as well as spreading awareness.

Now you might be sitting here asking yourself, "Why should I trust you?".  And that, too, is a fair question.  I am a senior at Oakdale High School this year.  I am Vice President of my high school's NHS, editor-in-chief of my school's newspaper, and am coaching a girls club volleyball team.  I am very involved in my community, so it's important to me that I do everything I can to give back to it.  I participated in Student Visionaries of the Year last year as a team member, and am thrilled and honored to participate this year as a team candidate for Clawing for a Cure. 

I was part of a very successful team that raised over $10,000 last year and helped High School students across Maryland raise over $800,000 last year.  Using my success of last year, I feel confident that I can reach my personal goal of $10,000 and team goal of $30,000.  But I can't do it alone.  I need your help. Whether that's through donating or even just sharing my fundraising page and message, any little bit counts.  I hope I can count on you to help make a difference.

Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible.
They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers.

I am a visionary; I have a vision for a world without cancer, but I need your help.

This year, I’m proud to be a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, working to raise as much as possible for LLS’s mission.

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

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