I am honored to participate as a candidate for the 2020 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which select high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am proud to support LLS and am raising critical dollars in honor of a young patient hero who is currently battling or is in remission from a blood cancer. Each dollar is a vote. The  team that raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student of the Year. Our mission is to not only raise the most money but also to bring attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled. And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases. In fact, drugs first approved for blood cancers are now approved to treat patients with stomach cancers, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

As many of you may know, for me this cause is personal.  On August 7th, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. the doctors walked in to tell my dad and stepmom that my 7-month-old brother, Hawken, had Burkitt leukemia. Burkitt leukemia is the fastest growing blood cancer, and Hawk remains the only infant ever diagnosed. This aggressive cancer required an equally aggressive and intense treatment plan requiring Hawken to remain inpatient for nearly 6 months.  Hawken battled hard through many rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, spinal taps causing many of the side effects of cancer treatment. Even today, in remission, he receives what he calls “his pokes” which are weekly IVIG infusions to maintain immunity.

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS-funded research but will help provide critical information and support for patients, and support advocacy for laws to ensure patients can access the care and treatments they need.

Please visit our website often and bring 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.