Hello friends and family! When I was 8 years old, my little sister Claire was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The hospital is scary- it is full of chaos and people running around. I grew up in the hospital with the constant fear that I could lose my little sister, the  sister I would have given anything to protect. Cancer changed my life, for years my family would be terrified at every bruise or fever. This disease changes your life forever. However, I am so thankful every single day that my sister is safe and alive. Not every family is as fortunate as ours. We may not be able to change the possibility of being diagnosed with cancer, however we can do everything in our power to change the outcome. Cancer is a difficult disease, it takes people who have so much potential. Everyone deserves their best chance to fight. We can help treat cancer and hopefully one day find a cure. Every donation brings us a step closer. 

I am honored to participate as a team member 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 candidate and am 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 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.