Hi! My name is Rima Kodaypak and this is my 2nd year as a team member for Claws Against Cancer. In 4th grade, I was told that my aunt was diagnosed with gastric cancer. Her death in the same year was the first in my family that I had been around for. Even though she's in a better place now, the pain of loosing someone you love can never be little. I have also known Prokriti's family since her mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 of a variant of Hodgkins lymphoma, as she is recovering now. I'm aware that so many families have been affected by cancer, which inspires me to raise awareness for LLS and help families avoid experiencing the pain of loosing their loved ones. This year, it's even more important to donate towards those affected by blood cancer because they have a greater risk of dying from the coronavirus than other cancer patients. As someone who has had many family members deeply affected by the coronavirus disease, I know the risks that come with underlying diseases and hope that fundraising for LLS will help anyone fighting blood cancers during these uncertain times. 

I am honored to participate as a team member for the 2021 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.