Hello, my name is Maddison Thompson, and I am thrilled to represent the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year. My goal in life is to help build a world where I feel confident raising my children. A world without cancer is something that would make me feel better about bringing up my family.

I have a personal connection to blood cancer. His name was Ryan Van Amburgh, and he passed away on Christmas in 2023. He was a very close family friend whom we had known through our church. His daughter, Sophie, used to be one of my best friends. When my nana was passing away, their family kindly let me and my older brother stay at their house while my mom was at the hospital with my nana. They helped us take our minds off the sadness that was overwhelming us. I have fond memories of spending the night at their house, making pancakes, and having fun cooking breakfast together. Ryan raised his children in a way that truly reflected his character. By helping fund a world without cancer, we can prevent families from having to lose their fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children, and friends to blood cancer.

Every child says they want to change the world, but I am putting action to my words. I want to make it so that no child has to lose their parent and no parent has to lose their child. If you help me change the world for the better, we can all work towards a world without cancer.

LLS focuses on three main pillars: policy and advocacy, patient support, and research. My team is focusing on policy and advocacy because we aim to give a voice to those who do not have one. When someone learns they have cancer, we can all imagine the impact on their mental state. Imagine being told you have an incurable disease, but knowing there could be a cure. LLS funds scientists and doctors to find that cure. Expecting mothers shouldn't have to worry about their child getting cancer. With the cost of regular bills combined with hospital stays and treatments, expenses can be overwhelming. LLS alleviates some of these worries, giving patients support when their own voice is often quieted.

“Advancing research in pediatric cancer and improving the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors are at the core of LLS’s mission,” said Gwen L. Nichols, MD, LLS’s chief medical officer. “We work tirelessly to support less toxic, more effective pediatric cancer treatments for our smallest cancer fighters.” When you donate to LLS, your money is directed where it's needed most.

Help me find a cure for cancer by donating from January 16th to March 6th. 

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.