I am Madelyn and I am honored to participate as a candidate for the 2020 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. 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.

My cousin Micah was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at 9 months old. Since then he has fought hard and is now cancer-free, but has chronic diseases that have been side effects of his treatment and he is far from a full recovery. Micah's fight has opened my eyes and made me more grateful for simple blessings in my own life, and he is an inspiring example to me. I've personally seen how cancer treatments severely affect patients, and it's heartbreaking. We need better treatments! Micah went from a smiling and happy baby to being unable to talk, move, and eat at 2 years old. I am so grateful that he was able to beat cancer, but better treatments will help children in the future to recover without the side effects from chemo. 

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They will 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.