When I was asked to run a Student of the Year campaign, my immediate answer was yes. Over the past three years I have watched what cancer can do to someone's life, what cancer can take away from someone.  In running this campaign I have found a way to raise money and awareness for something that can take away so much. 

In 2019, my cousin Will was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. When he first got his diagnosis I was confused, confused as to what this meant for his future. Up until this point I never thought cancer would be something that would impact my own life. But it did, it impacted and completely changed my life. Will fought so hard for so long but in the end lost his battle to AML. 

I quickly learned cancer has impacted almost everyone's life. Fast forward two years later, Will's mom, my aunt, Deeda was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although her battle is still ongoing, she had a double mastectomy and everything is looking good. 

I think we can all agree that cancer sucks. It really really sucks. It takes away so much without any warning. Another thing that sucks about cancer, there is little to no research for hard to treat cancers. So that's my why. Why did I agree to run this campaign? Because I want there to be more research for cancer and more effective treatments for patients. 

With your help, through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society we can work towards a goal of a world without blood cancer. 

Thank you. 

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