I am very excited to announce that I have been nominated to participate as a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Students of the Year Campaign. I have signed up to save lives through a 7-week long challenge to raise lifesaving funds. My team and I will be competing against other high schoolers around Charleston to raise the most funds and make the largest impact on the community and world around us. We have a goal of $50,000 and hopefully will reach this goal through sponsorships, auction items, and personal gifts.

I personally have taken on this 7-week long challenge to raise awareness and funds for the LLS’s life saving mission. The LLS provides research, treatment, and support for those diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma and their families. This cause is close to my heart. I chose to support this amazing foundation because making a difference in people's lives is what I feel to be my purpose in life. 

A year or so ago my mom lost her mother figure to blood cancer. Seeing her go through the loss of someone so influential and close to her, ignited a fire in me. We all know someone impacted by illness and probably cancer. In fact, every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 3 minutes someone's life takes a drastic shift. So why not use the time we have on this earth to make a change? This is just what the LLS is doing.

Since 2017, LLS has funded 85% of all FDA approved treatments for blood cancer patients. Many of these treatments are now being used to fight other types of cancer including bone, brain, breast, kidney, liver, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer just to name a few. By supporting LLS and working together, we can find a cure for not only blood cancer, but all cancers.

Thanks to support from those around the community, our efforts will fund therapies, treatments, and research that is not only saving lives but improving them. Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.

 All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well. 

If you are so inclined please share this link to friends and family to help me share LLS's mission and allow my team and I to make the largest impact.