Hi Everyone, I cannot believe that there's only 48 hours left to donate to this AMAZING organization on my behalf. From the bottom of my heart, I would sincerely appreciate any donation you could make- even if it's the spare change in your couch cushions. Together we are one step closer to finding a cure for cancer. Student of the Year 2020, here we come! With love, Sydney

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 my grandma, who is my hero and has leukemia, and am raising critical dollars in honor of her. 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.

Nine years ago, my grandma was diagnosed with leukemia. In spite of the devastating news, she remained upbeat and determined. She focused on surviving, and began advocating for other blood cancer patients. She joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training, raised significant funds for cancer research, and ran in the Denver, New York, and Miami marathons- she is such an inspiration! My grandma’s strength and courage will always be a reminder to me of how I want to live my life. I was nervous about accepting this challange at first, but if my grandma will someday endure the fight of her life, I can fight for a cure.

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.