I am honored to be a participant 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. As a sophmore at FHC I am proud to represent my school during my campaign.

The reason for my participation is because in August of 2017, when I was 14, I was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma. Burkitt's Lymphoma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the lymph nodes in your body. My tumors were in my right tonsil, and left armpit. My cancer was fast growing, and spreading causing me to have all inpatient treatments over the span of 4 1/2 months. This caused me to miss my first semester of my freshman year, something that I was actually excited for. Luckly I had things like school clubs to see my friends, and they would visit me in the hospital. I remember that one time we snuck snacks and drinks into my hospital room after getting caught by a nurse. They made everything easier to handle and get through. Their constant support is one the reasons those 4 months were bearable. My friends weren't the only thing that made my treatment better. Things like PORT, and Child Life Specialists made it better with their constant care. I got games, coloring books, and too many snacks to count because of them. They even donated a few bears to add to my collection (one bear for every chemo treatment). And you can help too. By donating to LLS you can help families going through treatment have a better or more comfortable time. LLS doesn't only donate to research, they also want to help the families comfort.

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.

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! Want to try and double your gift? Your employer may match your donation! Check out our list of matching gifts companies at https://www.lls.org/waystohelp/donate/corporatematching/

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support!

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

Some pictures below~~

Me getting my first blood transfusion

My board during one of my rounds

My mom and I at my homecoming dinner