Hi, my name is Ryanne Mills and I am a sophomore at the Bullis School located in Potomac, Maryland. I am so excited to be participating in the Students of the Year campaign!! This campaign and LLS's cause is very important to me because of my family's personal connection with cancer. Both my grandmother and my aunt had different forms of cancer. While both of these strong ladies were able to beat cancer and continue to live healthy lives, I will always remember the struggle and pain my family went through during these tough times. My grandmother recently passed away a few years after becoming cancer free, and she is my motivator for this campaign. I hope to raise money for LLS to honor my grandmother, and also to make sure that no family has to lose their loved one to any type of cancer. Myself and the rest of Bulldogs Bite Cancer appreciate any donation, no matter how small or how big. Anything makes a difference, and everything brings us one step closer to beating cancer! Thank you!

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.