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 2024 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. 

This life-saving mission is especially important to me because of of grandpa Pepis who lived in Mexico. As a child, I didn't fully understand why he spent so much time in Houston. I just knew that every visit was filled with joy, laughter, and the warmth of his smile. But as I grew older, I realized the reason behind those frequent trips, Pepis was receiving treatment for cancer. In fact, he battled multiple types over the years.Even though he was facing something as terrifying as cancer, Pepis always made sure my cousins and I never saw his pain. He constantly wore a smile, putting us at ease, even in his weakest moments. His resilience and optimism gave us hope, especially when he spoke about how amazing his doctors were and how they were going to make him better. He held onto that hope until his very last day, and because of him, so did I.It’s in his honor that I am fighting to support families like mine—families who deserve more time, more hope, and more moments to cherish with their loved ones. Your support can help give grandchildren the opportunity to run up to their grandparents, full of excitement, giving them hugs and kisses without the looming fear of cancer taking them away. It can give them the joy of sharing small, cherished traditions—like the chocolate chip pancakes my grandpa and I loved at Buffalo Grille.

Together, we can give more families the chance to make a decade of memories, or more, with those they love. No child should have to live in fear of the word “cancer.” And with your support, we can create a world where they don’t have to.

I have assembled Team KILLINCANCER to help me raise funds. I am so proud to lead my campaign team and work towards our goal to raise $125,000 over a 7 week period from Thursday, January 11th until Saturday, March 2nd. I cannot do this alone.  Will you please help me make a difference?  

This is how you can help me! Beginning January 11th, click on the “Donate Today” button on this page. Please note: your donations are tax deductible. 

You can also help me raise funds by inviting your friends, family and everyone in your networks to join us by making a donation. Aside from donations, we would love to hear from you or someone you know who would be willing to sponsor the Grand Finale on Saturday, March 2nd or other possible fundraising opportunities.

Large or small, your contribution to this worthy effort will be greatly appreciated.

Help be part of the cure and help my team compete in the Houston Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. For more information, please contact me at emily.k.bolton@icloud.com.  For more information about LLS and Student Visionaries of the Year, please visit www.llsstudentvisionaries.org/. 

With sincere gratitude

Alexa   

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the largest donor to blood cancer research in the nation. They have invested over $1.6 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, like my grandpa and my mom, 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 of patients and their families. Along with my team, Team KILLINCANCER, 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.

While funds cannot be collected until January 11^th, this is how you can help me today!

1. Help me secure a corporate sponsorship (Sponsorships start at $15,000 and sponsors receive Gala benefits).
2. Help me sell advertising spots in the Grand Finale Program book (Program ads start at $1,500 and reach 400+ attendees).
3. Share my message & fundraising link with your contacts via email or social media.
4. Reach out to me for more information!

Beginning January 11, 2024, you can visit my fundraising website https://events.lls.org/txg/svoyhouston25/alexareimers and click on the "Donate Today" button.  Or if you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society" and print "SVOY Emily Bolton, Team Making Bank" in the "memo" your portion of your check.  The deadline for receiving contributions in the mail is February 28^th.

Not only is this campaign a great way to support LLS and their life-saving work, but it’s a great leadership opportunity for me. I am so excited to be able to make a difference in my community in this way. 

Thank you for your generosity and support. Your donation truly makes a difference and with your help, we’re one step closer to a cure for blood cancers!

Until there is a cure,

Alexa