Dear Family and Friends,

I am honored to inform you that the South Central Texas Austin Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has nominated me as a candidate in their 3rd annual Students of the Year fundraising challenge. I could not be more excited to make a difference in the lives of patients across the country! I have chosen to run my campaign in honor of my good friend Caroline Richards. She was one of my best friend in middle school, and we had every class together. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer in sixth grade and unfortunately lost her battle on January 9, 2015. The friendship I had with Caroline helped shape me into the person that I am today. I will always remember the laughs and fun memories we shared.  Along with Caroline, a classmate of mine, Lauren Hart, was diagnosed with Lymphoma last year, but her strong, and sweet character beat cancer, and I get the chance to see her bright, friendly smile every day.

After seeing the long journey that Caroline and Lauren persevered through, I always wondered if there could be a cure. A close friend of ours, Cody Robert, has been fighting Leukemia for one full year, his strength, persistence, and positive attitude is incredibly inspiring to me. I am so passionate about raising as much as I can. LLS donates the funds to blood cancer research which in the long run could help many different kinds of cancer. Therefore in the honor of my friend and the millions of people diagnosed with cancer, I would love to make a change in the community and help with the funding blood cancer research.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is an amazing non-profit organization whose fundraisers help provide research for blood cancers (Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma). LLS offers support for patients, survivors, their families, and even helps to advance the science behind other cancers through its research. Unfortunately there is no early detection for blood cancers, only the search for a cure. 

Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer death in children and young adults under the age of 20, which is why LLS has funded over $1 Billion in research towards a cure. Finding an answer to cancer is an enormous task which is why I have assembled a stellar team to assist me in my mission towards supporting this great cause within our community.

I have set a goal of $75,000 to reach by the end of this seven week campaign. The campaign commences on January 10th, 2019 and ends with a Grand Finale Celebration on March 1st where Austin’s Student of the Year will be announced. Every dollar counts as a “vote” towards my campaign and the Student with the most “votes” will be named the winner.

My competitors have written similar letters to their family and friends seeking donations so I ask that you give in whatever capacity you feel comfortable with before the March 1st deadline. All donations are tax deductible, and you can give by mailing your donation to:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Students of the Year

4009 Banister Lane, Suite 200

Austin, TX 78704

Please make your check out to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society" and write "Grace Toomey" in the memo section, or make your donation via this website.

You can also help raise funds by inviting others to donate, inquiring with your employer about corporate matching programs, and sharing content from my webpage on social media. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you would like to attend our campaign-ending Grand Finale Celebration or receive sponsorship information/discuss in-kind donations. 

Thank you so much for your help, as everyone wins when cancer loses and it is your gift that makes a difference!   

                      
Sincerely,
Grace Toomey

2019 Students of the Year Candidate

I am honored to participate in the 2019 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 be raising critical dollars in honor of a young patient hero who is currently battling or is 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(s) 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.