Hello! I am Avni Patel. I attend Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio, as a junior. 

Last year, my mother, Shilpa Patel, unfortunately passed after a difficult battle with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. To raise awareness about the devastating effects of cancer and ensure that other families do not have to suffer the hardship that my dad and I are going through, I am working to raise as much as possible in a seven-week period, in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is committed to doing more for blood cancer patients and families than any other organization in the world. Since 1949, LLS has invested nearly $1.3 billion into cutting-edge cancer research, inspiring hope across the globe. Hope that we can one day live in a world without cancer. 

As you know, everyone wins when cancer loses. Thanks to your support, our efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Over the years, support from people like YOU has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases, quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.

Many LLS-supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Also, LLS-funded drugs, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies, are now saving thousands of lives every day.

We really are getting close to our goal of a world WITHOUT blood cancers!

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well. For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.

Over the next seven weeks (February 16th to April 8th), I encourage you to please visit my website often and spread the word to family and friends who might also like to donate!

I cannot put into words how thankful I am for each and every donation. All of your support helps me to reach my goal of making an impact for all cancer patients, and their families, while also honoring the memory of my mom. Thank you for your help and support. Together, we can BEAT cancer!