Dear Family and Friends,                 

We are honored to be participating as candidates for the 2019 Students of the Year fundraising campaign benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The mission of the LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families in the areas of research/patient services. 

Blood cancers have personally touched people in our lives. In the 1970s our mom’s cousin was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a child while living in Montana. Needless to say, her family was devastated. Our great uncle and aunt temporarily relocated the family to California to seek the help of doctors to treat him during a time when survival rates were low. We are happy to say the doctors not only saved his life but also inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. He is now a successful surgeon living in Billings, Montana. It hit home again when our Grandmother, Joanne, was diagnosed twice with blood cancers, first in 2000 and again 10 years later. Our parents witnessed first-hand the advancement in treatments between the 1st and 2nd diagnosis. We also witnessed the miracle of a successful stem cell transplant and the incredible work of LLS. Fortunately, our Grandmother is alive today due to the work of LLS and we are so grateful. 

Your donation will sustain ongoing research to find a cure for blood cancers and provide the much needed support to local families as they fight the fight of a lifetime. New therapies cannot become realities without the funding support of organizations like LLS. In fact, more than 40% of the new cancer treatment drugs approved by the FDA since 2005 started as blood cancer drugs but are now applied in other forms of cancer. Every dollar we raise is a vote to cure cancer, all cancers! We are asking you today to join us in this ambitious campaign. We have until March 3, 2019 to reach our personal goal of raising $20,000.

All donations are 100% tax deductible - LLS’s Tax ID # is 13-5644916.

Thank you for joining us with your generous support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a non-profit organization committed to giving life to those who have, are, and will fight the tough challenges of cancer. Every dollar donated brings us one step closer to a world without cancers. You can reach us at amatteo@evergreenhomeloans.com or (360) 601-9248.

We’ll let you know how the campaign goes. For now, thank you for your friendship and support.❤️

Maria & Melissa Matteo

Matteo Madness