Hello, my name is Riley Hoang. I am a freshman attending Justice High School.  When I'm not campaigning for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, LLS.  I like to play lacrosse, basketball, and football. I am currently playing the violin and teaching myself to play the guitar. Last year I went to Guatemala on a medical mission with the Medical of Mission of Mercy USA. We provided services such as eye care, dental, and minor surgery. What struck me the most was seeing how many children were in dire need of our services and from that point their lives and mine were changed forever-for the best.

My inspiration for doing this is the LLS 2019 Honored Hero, Meaghan Kilner. Meaghan is currently a junior at Stone Ridge High School and was diagnosed in 2017 with Hodgkin Lymphoma stage 2A Bulky with a 13 cm tumor over her heart and a necklace of tumors over her neck. Meaghan was treated with four cycles of chemotherapy but unfortunately, in October of 2017, her cancer returned. She will continue to receive a total of 16 more rounds of antibody chemo ending in March of 2019. However, Meaghan refuses to let cancer define her. She raised $155,000 for the student of the year campaign of 2018 WHILE undergoing treatment! How incredible is that? I realized that if she can do this campaign while undergoing treatment, I can do it too. Therefore I am committed to helping LLS because I want to put an end to this disease.

I am honored to participate in the 2019 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which select 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.