Dear Friends and Family,

I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for the 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Student Visionary of the Year (SVOY), to celebrate Kaden’s official cure date this May. I have compiled a team of family and friends that together look to make some big gains for cancer research! On January 18th, 2024, we will kick-off with the goal to raise the most over a 7-week window that concludes on March 9th, 2024 with a celebratory gala where the winner is revealed. While I of course would love for my team to raise the most, what it’s truly all about is funding research for safer more effective treatments, cures, and family and patient support.

MY WHY

For those who may not know my story as well, when I was in 2nd grade my younger brother, Kaden, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I watched this impact my family, immediate and extended, my friends & community, and most importantly my 6-year-old built-in-best-friend. It was a huge part of my childhood and still lives as an undeniably important part of who I am today and how I live my life. Five years ago this May, Kaden completed treatment and rang the bell! So, May 2024 marks his official cure date! Cancer taught me so many things, but some of the bests are to be grateful and to never be afraid to ask for help. My mom always says that Kaden carried the physical weight of cancer, and I took the psychological weight, and I will never find a better teammate in life than my little brother. Kaden’s diagnosis introduced us to L.L.S. and the larger cancer community that helped us through three long years of treatment. Kaden has always been my biggest cheerleader and this year my teammates and I want to do our part to give hope to people all over fighting cancer or standing by someone who is.

WHY L.L.S.

In addition to the vast amount of research and support that LLS has provided since its inception in 1949, they recently launched THE DARE TO DREAM PROJECT. This program is focused on powering innovative research, new, safer treatments, support services, and advocacy… specifically for kids! They are seeking to raise $175 million over the next five years to support global, collaborative research and treatments for children's blood cancers, the LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial, as well as widening our range of free education, personalized support services, financial assistance, and advocacy on behalf of all children and their families. I hope to contribute to their sweeping efforts in helping patients and families across the country.

I invite you to contribute to our team's goal to support the new patients, the worried families, and the relentlessly supportive communities. I have high goals for this campaign, and I need your support to achieve them. For ways to contribute feel free to reach out to me directly at mcpherson.kayla@gmail.com, visit my website https://bit.ly/kaylasvoy, or through the QR code below. If you are donating with a check, please make it payable to L.L.S., include my name in the memo, and mail directly to LLS at 720 S Colorado Blvd Suite 520-N; Denver, CO 80246. *Many companies have a matching program. I would love if you would ask them to match your donation and spread the word!

I truly appreciate your support and look forward to a day when we can celebrate not just one person’s cure date but finding THE CURE!

Kayla McPherson

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.