I am Emily Hester, a Junior at the National Cathedral School. This year, I am participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Student of the Year Campaign as part of team Close Cares. 

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) was founded with the mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to provide aid for patients and their families. Over the years, the LLS community has significantly expanded: there are now five main fundraising campaigns, as well as annual gatherings such as Light the Night. I am part of the Student of the Year Campaign; this is a seven-week competition, where high-school students compete to raise as much money as possible, as a way to contribute to LLS's mission. 

Please join me in supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) by making a donation to my fundraising campaign. Thanks to your support, my efforts, will help fund the therapies and treatments and help save lives today.

LLS's continued advancements over the years, are responsible for the blood cancer survival rate doubling and tripling; in some cases, the survival rate has even quadrupled. This has been accomplished through various actions, such as financing innovative, lifesaving therapies and by supporting the work of scientists and doctors. For example, in the 68 years LLS has been active, the organization has raised more than $1.2 billion in research. A more recent addition to the broad expanse of LLS's reach is the Beat AML Master Clinical Trial, which LLS founded in 2016; this clinical trial strives to discover new treatments for acute myeloid leukemia, one of the most lethal blood cancers. With continued support from donors and campaigners, LLS can continue to expand and strengthen its network of life-saving trials, studies, and research. 

And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers. They're even being tested in clinical trials for patients with a range of cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS funded drugs are now being tested for patients with other non-cancerous diseases like Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.

We really are changing the face of blood cancer!

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my Web site often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere I thank you for your support!
For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org