Hello! My name is Shiven Shekar and I am a freshman at highschool. When I first joined this program, it was because of its widespread support. Joining the LLS foundation as a supporting teammate has only helped me learn more about blood cancer. I am in a seven-week fundraising competition to fund money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which works with research facilities and organizations to help find a cure for blood cancer.

I am 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 in this fundraiser-competition. 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.

Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects the body's ability to fight infections. This devastating cancer, renders your body's immune system useless. 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.

Thank you for joining the fight with the Cure Creators against blood cancer. Together if we can donate, no matter how large or small a contribution can be, we can help win this battle. Our goal is to save people and we hope we can achieve this through donations. 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. So let's fight Cancer!

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.