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 support my team and am 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 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.

Over the last 17 years, I have attended 8 schools in over 4 cities and two countries.  In my travels, I fell in love with hope, happiness, and helping others. I found LLS in my constant search for hope, I regularly volunteer at LLS and other organizations in the universal search for happiness, I aspire to spread happiness and hope through the Students of the Year Campaign by inspiring people to join the battle against cancer.

In November 2013, after a month of nausea, vomiting and vision changes, Amelia was diagnosed with a tumor in the frontal lobe of her brain.  It took another two months, and two brain surgeries, to diagnosis her with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma of the brain. A type of cancer that is usually found in immunocompromised, adult men, not an otherwise healthy teenager. She spent 6 more months in the hospital receiving very intensive chemotherapy, suffering from many complications and life-threatening side effects.  Finally, in July 2014, she was released from the hospital and has spent the past few years in physical and occupational therapy to regain strength and movement. She has right-sided weakness and wears a brace on her leg to help her walk. Amelia is about to graduate high school and looks forward to attending college and pursuing a career working with animals.

We have the power to make a difference, and you can help make that possible.  Please consider supporting my team, Amelia`s Allies, not just for Amelia, but for everyone who is battling this horrible disease.

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.