Dear Friends and Family,

Welcome to my fundraising page!

Today 1.2 million Americans are fighting or are in remission from blood cancers, and every three minutes another person unknowingly joins the fight. Last year, when I was asked to participate in the Students of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society I felt impelled to act. It was the perfect time to engage in this campaign because a friend of mine from Stone Ridge, Meaghan Kilner, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma at the beginning of her freshman year. I recognized that I could not turn away from Meaghan and the opportunity to help the rest of the blood cancer community. After fighting cancer during most of her freshman year of highschool, she entered remission. Unfortunately, the cancer has returned and she is beginning her battle again. Meaghan is the most motivated, brave, and hardworking person I know. Despite the obstacles she has undergone she remains positive and strong.  

The main message of the Students of the Year campaign is that children should be working to solve problems that are facing our generation. So that’s what I am doing! I have the power to make a difference, and you can help make that possible.

In my family, my grandfather had leukemia and passed before myself or my older sister could meet him. I heard he was an exceptional man and I sometimes imagine the memories we could have made together. With your help, lives could be prevented from being cut short.

One thing that sticks out to me about LLS is that any progress they make in research will help push along the cure for all other cancers, and every dollar we raise will help to find a cure. Since leukemia and lymphoma are blood cancers, any advancements made in this field improve the lives of those affected by all cancers; many drugs that were made for blood cancers have helped other patients, and that is something that we all can agree is incredibly important.

Please consider supporting Gators Beat Blood Cancer for Meaghan and for all the children who are battling this life-threatening disease. The money raised will go directly to support research to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Don't stop there! Please visit our website and forward this message to your friends and family who would also like to donate!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org or email me at iandres19@stoneridgeschool.org