Today, more than a million Americans are fighting a daily battle with blood cancers, and every 3 minutes, another person unwillingly joins the fight. I have been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the battle and help those living with blood cancers. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has nominated me as a candidate in their 2023 Houston Student Visionaries of the Year fundraising campaign, and I could not be more excited to make a difference in the lives of patients across the country.

After experiencing the impact of being a team member last year, I decided I wanted to lead my own team in this year's campaign. This opportunity means a lot to me and touches near and dear to my heart. My dad was diagnosed with Lymphoma back in 2014. I was seven at the time and my younger brother, Adam, was only four years old. My brother and I didn't really understand the meaning of his diagnosis, but we did know that he needed our love and support more than ever. Since the doctors caught it early, my dad only had to go through one surgery and received multiple rounds of radiation treatments. My family and I are very grateful for the treatments, the doctors, the hospital, and his full recovery which makes us want to help and support others. My cheer coach's son was diagnosed with Leukemia and fought hard, but Charlie lost his battle almost two years ago at the young age of five years old. As I watched the overwhelming support and kindness surround the family, I instantly knew I wanted to make an impact and help those who are dealing with something as terrible as cancer.

I have assembled Team Making Bank to help me raise funds. I am proud to lead my campaign team and work towards our goal to raise $150,000 starting Thursday, January 12th, until Saturday, March 4th.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the largest donor to blood cancer research in the nation. They have invested over $1.5 billion in research and are leaders in advancing breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics, and personalized medicine. These revolutionary new treatments originally discovered through blood cancer research are now being tested in clinical trials for other cancers. While there has been phenomenal progress, there is still so much more to be done. Cancer is still one of the leading causes of death in children and young adults.

My campaign provides an opportunity to support the critical work of LLS in combating these diseases. I am honoring those who have battled blood cancers and raising money that will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding mission to find a cure and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Along with my team, I will work to increase awareness about the impact of blood cancers and the cutting-edge treatments that are currently being researched, as well as inspire others to join the fight to find a cure. I cannot do this alone. I need your help!

Help be part of the cure and help my team succeed in the 2023 LLS Students Visionaries of the Year campaign. For more information, please contact me through my email at emmaschoppa@yahoo.com or by phone at 713-205-8270. For more information about LLS and Student Visionaries of the Year, please visit www.llsstudentvisionaries.org/.

I really appreciate your consideration and support!

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Visionaries look to the future—and see infinite possibility.
They challenge the status quo—and make the impossible possible.
They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision - of a better world - one without blood cancers.

I am a visionary; I have a vision for a world without cancer, but I need your help.

This year, I’m proud to be a part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign, working to raise as much as possible for LLS’s mission.

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining this fight by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

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