Hi! My name is Manoela (Manu) Mishima and I'm a sophomore at Stone Bridge High School and the Academies of Loudoun in the MATA program! I'm part of a couple of clubs, including Key Club, YDSA, and International Thespian Society. If I'm in school but I'm not in the classroom, then I'm usually doing theater-- both on and off stage! I love to research and debate topics regarding social issues and interesting things around me. I also like to read (a lot!), write, play and listen to music, rock-climb, and spend time with my friends and family. 

I signed up for this fundraiser for two main reasons. First, because I admire and support LLS' work on research, treatment, prevention, and awareness-raising, and second because I have a close relative who has dealt with cancer in the past. Though it was successfully treated, my family member's cancer diagnosis was a big shock to us; thankfully, they had acess to effective treatments and got better within a considerably short period. LLS has helped fund research for innumerable types of cancer treatment, and for that I am forever grateful; to express that gratitude, I decided to join this project, hoping that soon enough no one will have to go through what my family and I did. 

I am participating as a member of a fantastic team called the CureSaders! for the next 7-weeks, and with your support, my team and I will be able to reach our personal and collective goals, for beating cancer is in our blood!

Manoela Mishima & Team CureSaders!

I have signed up to save lives with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and am working to raise as much as possible over the next 7 weeks. Every dollar raised counts as one vote for my campaign. The candidate(s) whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of Student or Students of the Year. Will you help me earn that title?

 
As you know, everyone wins when cancer loses. Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.
 
Many LLS-supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS-funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.
 
We really are getting close to our goal of a world without blood cancers!
 
All donations are greatly appreciated and 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 website often and tell 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