Hey, everyone! My name is Kosette Koons-Perdikis, and I am a Sophomore and St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland. Outside of school, I am extremely committed to by club soccer team, Virginia Union ECNL. As a team, we work so hard together on the field, and I am honored to help lead my team off the field in the 2023 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign! My soccer teammates and I are Team Virginia Union For a Cure, and our goal is to break local and national fundraising records for LLS. The vision of LLS is to build a better world--one without blood cancer; through this campaign, I am working to raise as much money as possible for their mission. My older sister, Kaeden, led team CUREsaders in the 2021 SVOY Campaign. Through her hard work and dedication, I have learned how people of any age can have a HUGE impact on the world! 

 

Not only has my older sister's experience prompted me to be part of such a cause, but my own "personal why's" are a driving force in my campaign. When I was only eight years old, my mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Luckily, my mom was able to overcome it through surgery and medication, and access to incredible doctors at Johns Hopkins. A little over a year ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which compelled me to experience the effects that cancer has not only on the individual but on their family and loved ones as well. Thankfully, my grandfather also made it through after a successful operation and with an amazing medical team, which opened my eyes to the importance of research done to find a cure. 

 

Unlike my mom and grandfather, many cancer patients are not so lucky. For example, 33% of patients diagnosed with blood cancer do not survive up to five years after their diagnosis. Additionally, leukemia–a form of blood cancer–is the #1 most diagnosed form of cancer among children and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among children and adolescents. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is at the forefront of finding a cure for blood cancers in terms of research and practice so that as many as possible can have access to stellar doctors and treatments in their fight. 

 

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS funds cutting-edge research to improve and save patients' lives, provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, and mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments.

 

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often, and tell your friends to donate! As you know, every single dollar makes a difference, and your donation could be THE dollar that cures cancer. ​​​​​​​With your support, my efforts will help ensure that this generation will be the LAST to see cancer! 

 

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere and the Virginia Union For a Cure SVOY team, thank you! 

 

Please support my team members! ​​​​​​​

Rachel Chung (Co-Candidate)

Bailey Billger 

Helen Bonner

Olivia Clautice

Madison Dockery

Meredith Fisher 

Sofia Grundy 

Kyra Hartogs 

Sophia Henry ​​​​​​​

Katia Katsari-Hoefer

Tamia Nelson

Maya Panicker

Calypso Rolly  

Sarah Zhong 

 

 

​​​​​​​For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.