Blood cancer is a plague in our world. Every 3 minutes, another victim is diagnosed with blood cancer, and every 9 minutes, blood cancer takes yet another life, all in just the United States. For the longest time, I have felt that I cannot contribute to ending blood cancer and guaranteeing better lives for millions of people worldwide. However, now I have an opportunity to make a change for the better.

I am honored to participate alongside Kunal Puri and Anant Sherwal 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 to help in the battle against blood cancer. Each dollar is a vote. 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!

However, our aspirations of ending blood cancer cannot be achieved alone. We need your help for our campaign to succeed and our goals to be realized.

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.