Students of the Year Washington DC
Maria Merz | Gators Beat Blood Cancer
Welcome to Maria Merz's SOY Fundraising Page!
Dear Friends and Families,
I am so happy to be participating in this year’s Student of the Year campaign, and I’m honored to be given this amazing opportunity to help out the many people who are affected by leukemia, lymphoma, or other types of blood cancers.
The SoY campaign is a seven week campaign from January 10, 2019 until March 2, 2019 during which we attempt to raise as much money possible, competing against schools from D.C, Virginia, and Maryland. With your donations to this worthwhile cause, we are one step closer to finding a cure to blood cancers. However, raising money is not just our sole focus. The SoY campaign is also about raising awareness about this detrimental disease. Although my family has not been affected by any blood cancers, I have witnessed the terrible effects of other types of cancer within my family and friends. For this reason, I am passionate about the fight against cancer, and I am especially honoured to be raising money for LLS’ honored hero, Meaghan Kilner, whose a fellow student at my school, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart.
Approximately every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer. It is also the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Unfortunately, in one way or another, we are all affected by blood cancers whether it be through our family or our friends. Yet, I am very hopeful about our mission towards finding a cure considering all the strides taken over these past few decades. 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.
All of this is possible with your support. 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!
For those who live in D.C, Maryland, or Virginia, there are a few events coming up:
January 15 - Chipotle Night Bethesda 4-8 p.m.
January 19 - Lilly Pulitzer Saturday 12-4 p.m.
January 21- Cava Bethesda 6-10 p.m.
January 27 - Zengo Bethesda at 1-2 p.m.
Thank you for your time and your contributions.
For a cure,
Maria Merz Ramirez
Gators Beat Blood Cancer
For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.
18 Comments
Andrew H Schapiro
This is a very worthy cause; we're pleased to support it. Keep up the good work!
Concepcion Arcay Ramirez
Confident that through research we can bring hope to cancer patients.
Patricia Suarez Arcay
Great job Maria!!! We are very proud of you. Patricia & Javier
Brittany O’Shea
Good luck Maria! ♥️ Patrick & Brittany
Ruth Riggins
This is in memory of my husband, Robert J. Riggins, who died of AML in 1991. I am grateful for the research that has been done since then which has helped many people. Thanks to your team for your fundraising efforts. I hope you will meet your goal.
Eloísa Ramírez Vaquero
Helping research is helping a lot of people, I hope you get the highest.
Terry and Chuck McGroarty
Thank you Maria for your efforts in this worthy cause!
Elizabeth McGroarty
Great work Maria!
Ryan and Ashlee Webb
Best of luck, Maria!
Anonymous
Thank you for your leadership of this initiative. You are making a difference in the world!
Kristina Arriaga
Good job Maria! Thanks for helping so many!
Anonymous
Every penny counts in the search for the cure of cancer!
James Merz
Hats off to the Stone Ridge SOY campaign leaders. Your inspiring commitment and dedication will make a significant contribution to the fight against cancer.
Brenda and Alex Barrasso
Go Maria and the Gators! Help find a cure and stop the suffering!
James Merz
Great job Maria! Enjoy tonight.
Alfonso Ramírez
May we find the cure to all cancers! Thank you María for your efforts in this important fundraiser. With much love, from abuelo.
Sarina Penn
For those affected and their families. May all your efforts continue to contribute to find a cure.
Raika Nunez
This is awesome Maria! Good luck.