Thank you for your support of my Student Visionaries of the Year campaign! Please visit https://SVOYCLT25.givesmart.com to make your generous donation to my team's campaign. All you need to do is click on the donate link and find my team, Team Caring to Cure.

Hello all! Thanks so much for visiting my page! My name is Margaret Cowden and this is my third year working with LLS, except this year I am a Candidate! I have assembled a truly incredible team of individuals to help me alongside this journey, and I know that with your help and theirs, we will be successful in our goals. LLS has become a special part of my life these past few years. It is an incredible organization that truly paves the way for change, and instills a sense of urgency in young people. I am very excited to step into this special role as a Student Visionary, knowing first-hand how much of an impact LLS makes on the fight against blood cancers. 

In March of 2021, my cousin Lila Guerry was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) which is a common cancer in adults, but extremely rare in children. Less than 700 children are diagnosed with AML each year in the US. Because of the rarity of this cancer, appropriate treatment for children is all but available. Lila was treated with standard chemotherapy, but was then found to have a marker that meant a relapse was highly probable. This meant that she would have to undergo a more aggressive form of treatment, which is not suitable for children. Lila’s team was notified about a clinical trial funded by the LLS where Lila would be able to receive a bone marrow transplant. The transplant was successful, and as of today, Lila is 100% cancer-free! Although she is in remission today, cancer is still very much a part of her life. She will continue to face obstacles throughout the rest of her life because of the harsh, adult treatment she underwent. The necessity for Cancer treatment geared towards CHILDREN is immeasurable. Children have distinct biological differences from adults, requiring a specialized approach to minimize long-term side effects. Treatments also must consider the physical, emotional, and cognitive differences between children and adults. Because of my passion for improvements in patient resources, I have selected the Patient Education and Support Mission Pillar to align my campaign with. This pillar's primary focus is to provide safe, quality, and affordable care to patients, and provide resources that will positively impact patient life. The LLS has enabled many families, such as my own, to envision a future with their loved ones. As young people leading the next generation, it is our responsibility to curate a future of hope. With that hope, eventually, we can eradicate blood cancers. With your help, we are one step closer to a world without cancer. 

I have set a personal goal of $25,000 and my team hopes to raise at least $200,000. I know that with your help, we can reach these daunting goals.

Thank you so much for supporting me, my team, and most importantly, the fight against blood cancers.