My name is Abigail Pullen.  I am a Junior at Tom C. Clark High School and I am honored to be a candidate for Student of the Year. 

I was first touched by leukemia when my grandmother, Reesa Pullen, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2007.  After her diagnosis, my grandmother immediately entered a drug trial protocol at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.  During treatment, she was in isolation for thirty days, speaking to us through a small glass window.  She returned home in remission, but her leukemia returned. In 2009, she received a bone marrow transplant at the Methodist Hospital Transplant Center from my great uncle, Bernard Rabinowitz who was a 100% match.  She has been cancer free for five years, but still suffers from Graft Versus Host Disease, a complication of her transplant. 

I am also dedicating my campaign to one of my best friends, Mason Taylor.  Mason and I are teammates on the Clark Tennis Team.  Mason was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was just 10 years old! Mason endured three years of chemotherapy before being cancer free.  Both Mason and my grandmother are an inspiration to me for their fight and determination to beat blood cancer. 

LLS is an amazing organization that does amazing work.  Through my Student of the Year campaign, the money I raise will go directly to changing someone’s life forever. I have made it my personal mission to raise $30,000 for LLS.  Beating cancer is a community effort.  Please join me, my amazing grandmother, Mason, and my entire family in continuing this fight.