I am honored to participate as a candidate for the 2020 Students of the Year program! The 2020 Students of the Year program is a seven-week initiative in which nominated high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I am running in honor of three very special people in my life that are affected by cancer. The first is my high school dance coach, Mrs. Mary Lynn Dorrow. Mrs. D has served as a second-mother and role model to our entire dance team. She is a firework of personality and confidence that we all look up to. Mrs. D has been battling cancer for a few years but that has not stopped her coaching our team. The second is Mr. Jay Dusenberry. Jay Dusenberry is perhaps the most warm-hearted and full of life man I will ever know. I am excited to share that Jay is now in remission from stage four lymphoma! Last but not least is Bart Grunenwald, who was the best man in my parent’s wedding. He has been my neighbor for the past ten years and I have never met someone who always has a smile ear to ear! Bart was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. These three people have all been huge rays of sunshine in my life, therefore, my team name is Team Sunshine.

With your help and generosity my team will be able to reach our goal of $15,000! Each dollar is a vote. In the campaign 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.

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 share this with any of your friends that might consider donating as well!

On behalf of blood cancer patients, my team, and myself, thank you for your support!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.