Dear Friends and Family,

Today more than a million Americans are fighting a daily battle with blood cancers and every 4 minutes another person unwillingly joins the fight. I have been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the battle and help those living with blood cancers. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has nominated me as a candidate in their Charlotte “Students of the Year” fundraising challenge, and I could not be more excited to make a difference in the lives of patients across the country.

This mission is especially important to me personally because my grandfather has battled three different types of cancer, five different times. He has had Lymphoma twice in the past eight years. I watched my grandfather endure numerous chemo treatments, several surgeries, and struggle to regain full health. Without the treatments, care and support from family, friends and physicians, my grandfather would not be here with us today. Cancer is a mean and difficult disease that does not discriminate. If we can help, even just a little bit, we can make a difference!

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the largest donor to blood cancer research in the nation. They have invested nearly $1.3 billion in research, and are leaders in advancing breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine. These revolutionary new treatments originally discovered through blood cancer research are now being tested in clinical trials for other cancers. While there has been phenomenal progress in the fight to cure cancer, there is still so much more to be done. One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

My campaign provides an opportunity to support the critical work of LLS in combating these diseases.  I am honoring those who have battled blood cancers and raising money that will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding mission to find a cure and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Along with my team, I will work to increase awareness about the impact of blood cancers and the cutting edge treatments that are currently being researched, as well as inspire others to join the fight to find a cure.

I have assembled Carolina Catalysts along with my co-candidate, George Macon V, to help raise funds. I am proud to lead my campaign team and work towards our goal to raise $185,000 during the next 7 weeks - from January 26^th – March 13^th, 2020.

Help be part of the cure and help my team compete in the Charlotte Students of the Year campaign. For more information about LLS and Student of the Year, please visit studentsoftheyear.org.

Sincerely,

Taylor LaFar

2020 Student of the Year Candidate