Hello All,

My name is Linwood Antwoin Stokes, Jr. and I'm a junior at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, VA. I feel blessed and honored to participate in this year's Students of the Year (SOY) program.  I have always been a supporter of breast cancer awareness. My great-aunt is a survivor for over 30 years.  She is a remarkable woman and I am thankful for programs that support all types of cancer research.

I decided to join Team LoCo On Cancer because it includes students from Loudoun Valley and Woodgrove High Schools. We all have the same goal of fighting cancer - a disease that attacks all people at any age and regardless of background.

SOY is a seven-week fundraising effort that runs from January 10th through March 2nd.  It selects 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.

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!

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

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