This year I am privileged to be nominated as a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) 2019 Students of the Year campaign.  The Students of the Year is a seven-week fundraising competition to raise money to support LLS.  I am asking you to help me assist the efforts of LLS to find a cure for blood cancer. 

As many of you may already know, ten years ago my Grandfather (Papa), Rick Andre, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma.  He was only 55 years old at the time. The type of cancer he was diagnosed with is non-curable and he was given about five years to live.  Here we are 10 years later and he is still going strong, and a large part of this is owed to the medications developed and funded in part by donations to LLS.  Papa is currently on a new type of chemotherapy which is available in a pill to be taken daily. This has drastically decreased the negative side effects that my Papa experienced through his first rounds of Chemo through an IV, prior to the development of this oral medication.  While the development of this new type of chemo is great, it is also quite expensive, and that is where LLS came to the rescue with a grant for Papa to pay for this life saving drug. Thanks in part to LLS my family is able to look forward to a future with my Papa by our side.

I am very passionate about helping LLS. The last time I might have reached out to you was for support in my efforts to raise money for the annual Light The Night walk. I believe in their mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.  While we will still walk in September to support my Papa and all others fighting cancer, this is where our fundraising efforts will be focused.

Please join my Papa and I to help support the efforts of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by making a donation.  My campaign goal over this seven-week period is $10,000 and donations must be received by May 7, 2020.

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.