Students of the Year Dallas
McKeni Adkins | Stronger Together
Meet Max
This year, we are running our campaign in honor of our team members, close friends and my mom and aunt who have battled cancer, as well as our Honored Hero Max Hinojosa, a Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) survivor.
Max was diagnosed with JMML – an extremely rare form of leukemia – at just one month old. I can’t imagine how his parents felt! After weeks of treatments, surgeries, and procedures, Max’s medical team decided to try a drug that had been funded by LLS. Max underwent treatment for almost a year before his body became stable, free from any medical intervention.
Today, Max is a healthy 7-year-old, the biggest Stars hockey fan, a voracious reader, and a kind and thoughtful young man. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up just like his dad, Cristian, a captain with the Dallas Fire Department. Please read Max’s full bio HERE: bit.ly/MaxHinojosa
I wanted to share Max’s story with you because Max is real kid, right here in Dallas, that LLS helped to save. His life – and Cristian’s – would be much different today if LLS hadn’t been able to fund the crucial research that led to his life-saving treatment.
Your dollars do matter. Your dollars are literally saving lives in our community every day.
So, thank you. Thank you for supporting me, Team Stronger Together, Max, Cristian, my mom, aunt, and blood cancer patients across the globe whose lives have been saved because of invaluable support from donors like you.
Fighting For a Cure
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has become a passion for me. Family is important to me as a single child, but eradicating blood cancers is even more important. My mom is a Leukemia survivor. Thanks to a clinical trial at MD Anderson she has been in remission since 2017. To further research and improve the lives of blood cancer patients and their families, I accepted the challenge and opportunity to be a candidate for the LLS Student of the Year. The LLS Student of the Year is a philanthropic leadership campaign for local high school aged students. I have put together a team of students and adults in my community to help support our fundraising efforts. It is time to stop the hold that blood cancer has on my family and many others like us. Your donation can help sponsor further research, fund patient support, and fight for a cure!
We are Stronger Together, and together we can make a difference.
McKeni's Students of the Year Fundraiser
I am honored to participate as a candidate for the 2021 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 my team and am raising critical dollars in honor of a young patient hero, Max Hinojosa, son of Dallas Fire Rescue Captain Christian Hinojosa, who is currently in remission from a blood cancer. Each dollar is a vote. The candidate 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.
We really are changing the face of blood cancer!
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.
23 Comments
Brian Adkins
Mckeni, I am so proud of you pursuing this great effort to raise funds for such a great cause. I know it makes you feel good to help your Mom, Aunt, and many others in finding a cure and to help give relief to others fighting this disease. I love you!
Randall Gurney
You will be a great leader in what ever you do. Your parents should be so proud. Keep doing what you do. I know this is close and dear to your family.
Ashley Hawkins
God has given people the intellect to research, test, and find cures. To others the ability to donate in small or big amounts. I want to encourage all to make your print of doing good in this world whenever there is a moment presented to do so. I alone can't change the whole world, but if everyone does their part, then hope is on the horizon.
Liz Stubbs
Best of luck raising funds for this wonderful cause!
The Cooper Family
McKeni, Thank you for providing our family this opportunity to contribute to a great cause. Your servant leadership is awesome! With love, Tara, Darren, Caitlin, and Abigail Cooper
Carrie K
Thank you for your leadership in this fundraiser!
Anonymous
What a great cause! Thank you for stepping up on behalf of your family and others.
Shirley Smith
We are you fans McKeni. Great work for a great cause.
Rhett McKeller
WOOOOOO!!!!!!
Tabi Dossey
So proud of what you are doing McKeni! My father passed away too young from cancer and my mother is a cancer survivor! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this!
Rodney and April Doyle
God bless you in all your endeavors McKeni! Proud to know you!
Kay Grimes
God bless
Jamie Ovalle
Congratulations McKeni! You are an amazing leader at such a young age. Keep up the good work!
Coach Tucker
McKeni, keep up your good work.
Carrie L
McKeni I am proud of all you have accomplished. I hope that you realize what a honor it has been to try to help you in your efforts. I hope this helps you reach your goals.
Kate Perry
Happy to help further the progress of life-changing medical treatments!
Lisa Clark
In honor of the Finch and Clark families
Lisa Clark
In memory of our dear patients that have gone home to be with Our Lord and in honor of those who are currently fighting this disease. Thank you, McKeni, for all that you are doing. We love your servants heart. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see what God has planned for you. Bonham Family Dentistry Drs. Pete and Lisa Clark Philippians 4:13
Rebecca Barnett
So incredibly proud of you!
Josh and Catrina Jones
McKenzie, we’re so proud of your dedicated and efforts to raise money and awareness!
Paul Sparkman
Thanks
Jennifer Clark
Yay McKeni!!! So proud of you
Eric Wolfe
In honor of Matthew Dugan, leukemia survivor.