Hello! My name is Keara Nielsen and I am part of the Student of the Year Program from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society this year as part of the ignagural year for Dutchess County! I am very excited to be a part of this program, as it will not just help me and my own personal skills. This program will be helping the thousands who are inflicted with blood related cancers. Not only that, but I will also be helping out Liam Craane, a sweet kid who is this year's Honored Hero, who is currently in remission. Now, some things about me are that I enjoy track and field (the image above being from a track meet), swimming, playing clairnet, acting, singing, dancing (especially tap), playing field hockey and listening to music. An interesting fact about me is that I have been to twenty or more concerts, where I have recieved drumsticks, guitar picks, gone on stage twice and recieved a lead singer's necklace! I am very excited to be doing this fundraiser this year and I hope that you all think of donating for this cause!

Thank you for your consideration!

Keara                                                                                                                                                                        

I am honored to participate as a team member for 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 support my candidate and 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. The candidate team that raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student 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.

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.

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.