7 years ago, my brother, Nate, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia just one week before his freshman year of highschool. His doctors immediately started him on rigorous treatments, causing him to miss out on his first few months of highschool and withdrawing from any chance of a normal freshman year experience. Throughout his diagnosis The Leukemia and Lymphoma society provided him with funded treatments, uplifting events where we built a community to support Nate and our family and personally showing up to the hospital to be a service to our familty. After 2 grueling years of recieving various treatments, my brother was left to his last resort. A bone marrow transplant. In order to receive this transplant, he needed to find a perfect match. Thankfully, we discovered that my sister was just that. Heartbrakingly, this is only a reality for 30% of patients with blood cancers. Beginning his second semester of Junior year he left behind sports, socialization and the comfort of his own home. He was admitted into the hospital, launching into 4 months of excrutiating chemotherapy, radiation, and overall isolation. He experienced nausea, weakness and loss of appetite. Finally, 4 months after being admitted, receiving treatments and a successful, bone marrow transplant he was discharged from the hospital. This was the start of his cancer free life. He started his isolation journey at home. This meant no one outside of our immediate family was allowed in our house, wearing a mask everywhere he goes and washing his hands after touching anything and everything. Once spring brought warmer weather, the golfcourse became his second home and escape from reality. It was the one place he got to go and feel normal again. His immune system grew stronger and stronger by time senior year rolled around. He was able to go to school for the first time in 4 years without being known as the sick kid who stopped at the nurses office in between every class to take his pills that were what kept his body going each day. He had hair again, he could play sports again, he got to be a kid again . I am grateful to say that he is now in his 5th year of remission. Without LLS this is not a possibility for many patients with Blood Cancer. LLS is an organization dedicated to supporting patients, funding new research and finding treatments for pediatric cancer patients. Currently, they are working to find a pediatric care plan, as of now children are treated with adult care plans. When the treatments are designed for 40 year old adults and then are given to children,the side affects become extremely severe. Our honored hero of the year, Lilli, was born with down syndrom, and a rare heart defect. Later at the age of 2 years old she was diagnosed with blood cancer. She then began treatments and had extreme side effects, due to the fact that these treatments are made for adults. The impact of LLS has inspired my campaign partner Lilly and I to get involved. Our mission is to bring awareness to Blood Cancers and the reality of over 44,000 americans being diagnosed every year. We are asking that you will join our team to Crush Cancer and grow our reach to accomplish our goal of raising $100,000. By doing this we can improve the lives of more people. 

For the cure, 

Allie Gfroerer ​​​​​​​

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.