Hello everyone!

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. Joining me in my mission to fight cancer are Julia Khinno and Thrisha Praveen, and together we form Team PowerBlood! Having the opportunity to raise money for those affected and research is an amazing experience and way to give back to my community. 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.

When I found out my mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I was devastated. I felt like the luckiest person in the world when I found that it had a high survival and cure rate. However, I know that not everyone is as lucky as I am. Regardless of the almost guaranteed positive outcome, the whole process was scary. My mother spent hours in the hospital taking scans and signing forms. The people with and those affected by cancer struggle with the emotional responsibilities and the process itself. By fundraising for cures, I am helping those in need and letting them know that we are a community and they will have support. I want to help give hope that there is a cure and let people know that there are always going to be people there to support them. 

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.

With your support and donations, we hope to to reach our goal of $35,000!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support!

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

Hello! My name is Akshara Kollu and I am a 15-year-old from Los Gatos. I am currently a sophomore (10th grade) in University Preparatory Academy. I love volleyball, and am on my school's varsity team. I also love singing classical music and am currently training under a retired opera singer. I am the Secretary of Sports in my school and love organizing dances and events. I also love hanging out with my little brother when I can!

And...now presenting the other two-thirds of Team PowerBlood!

Meet Thrisha Praveen (left) and Julia Khinno (right)! We all met in 7th grade, and have been the best of friends since then! When we were first given the opportunity to join this amazing program, we immediately knew that we wanted to work together. Together, we're three peas in a pod who complete each other and are always there for each other!