Aloha Friends, Family, and to whoever it may concern,

 

   We are Vincent Luu and Xyra Villanueva, and we are juniors attending Kailua High School. We are a part of the Student of the Year (SOY) program sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). LLS is one of the nation’s biggest non-profit organizations that dedicates their funds to blood cancer research and we were recently nominated to participate in a 7-week fundraising challenge hosted by them. The 7 week challenge period is from February 28 - April 18 2020.

 

   Growing up on the small island of Oahu, with a population of nearly 1 million, us young observant individuals, see a lot of different issues within our island. Issues such as poverty, homelessness and lack of health care have opened our eyes and hearts to help the people of Hawaii live a better life. The need to change the world relies on compassion. According to LLS, in the year 2018 the state of Hawaii had about 570 people who were diagnosed with a type of blood cancer and 250 died in that year because of it. Living in such a small state, just by hearing that number of people who were diagnosed or passed away from blood cancer research is appalling. The issues that the people of Hawaii are affected by, have affected us as well. Living in Hawaii, we have been exposed to many different issues in our communities, which changed the way we see the world. It is strongly believed that our future depends on our generation. The LLS, Students of the Year program will provide us a platform and an opportunity to help bring awareness to the second leading cause of death in the world, cancer.

 

   At only 16-years old, we both have delivered many impactful actions towards our school community. Our drive to become exemplary leaders has sparked our interest in the business field. As young leaders, we have helped our school community by raising money for Kailua High School's AVID program (a program for first generation college students) and serving as facilitators and committee chairs for various events. Kailua High School’s after school SAT prep and tutoring service program, which was founded by us, has given us the entrepreneurial skills to grow interest and expand our knowledge in the business field. Joining the SOY program with LLS gives us the experience and platform to not only increase our skill sets in leadership but also make a difference in our community, especially towards finding a cure for blood cancers.

 

   Every single donation from this program will go to LLS to fund blood cancer research and aid in patient support. Since 2017, LLS funded 45 of the 51 FDA approved cancer treatments. As leaders of our generation, we would like to help towards fundraising efforts to expand cancer research across the world.

 

   We are truly thankful and blessed with this opportunity that most high school students do not get the chance to experience. We thank everyone for their support and kindness to our campaign and message. If anyone has any questions about our campaign or about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, feel free to contact us at (teamlokahi20@gmail.com).

 

Mahalo nui loa,

Vincent Luu and Xyra Villanueva

2020 Team Lōkahi Candidates

 

“Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved” 

-Mattie Stepanek

 

Campaign Timeline: February 28, 2020 to April 18, 2020

 

Online Donation: Click me to donate!

 

Checks payable to: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Memo Line: Vincent Luu and Xyra Villanueva

 

Come to Big City Diner Kailua every Monday in March to support Team Lokahi in their journey to raising money for blood cancer research. There is a physical flyer that needs to be printed and shown to the waiter at the end of your visit in order for the profits to go to Team Lokahi. If you are interested in obtaining a flyer or have any questions about this event please email us at teamlokahi20@gmai.com Thank you for your support! Big City Diner Kailua - March Mondays! - March 2nd - March 9th - March 16th - March 23rd - March 30th

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.