Dear Friends and Family,

Lots of people are affected by blood cancer by being diagnosed themselves or knowing someone who has either survived, is still fighting or lost their battle with blood cancer. For me, that person was my cousin Bethany.  The month before her wedding, she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Instead of celebrating her marriage with a honeymoon after her wedding, she was having chemo treatments. It was a tough time for her and our family. However, thanks to lymphoma research and her course of treatment, she is in remission. She is healthy, happy and a mother of two. We need more stories like this and we can help make that happen.

Every dollar raised during this campaign will go directly to fight cancer and every dollar counts! We only have 7 weeks to raise as much money as possible and you can help in a couple ways:

1. Make a tax-deductible donation here

2. Send a check payable to LLS- 188 Lookout Dr. Oakwood OH 45419

3. Share my cause- It would mean so much if you were to spread the word to your family, friends and coworkers. Share the link, spread the word and reachout to people so we can beat blood cancer.

4. Donate Items- Towards the end of the competition there will be a silent auction and any items would help.

Your donation will fund directly into research that will prevent someone from losing a child, sibling, parent or a loved one and allow LLS to continue funding life saving and life changing research. Again, please reach out to other people and spread the world as much as possible as beating cancer starts with us.

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.