Dear Friends and Family,

As many of you may already be aware, I have recently been nominated for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Students of the Year Campaign. The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for both patients and their families. This seven-week fundraising challenge raises funds for the fight against cancer and I am honored to join this year’s efforts as a 2019 Student of the year candidate for Team Love > Leukemia. I am writing today in hopes you can support LLS’s mission to benefit those in need.

From January 26th - March 14th I will be fundraising amongst other candidates and their teams directly for LLS in support of its longstanding mission to find cures and provide patients with the treatments they need. The candidate who is able to raise the most money throughout the seven weeks is named The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2019 Student of the Year and also earns a scholarship. Our team fundraising goal is $20,000!

My goal for this campaign is to truly make a difference in the lives of those suffering from Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other blood cancers. My life has been touched by those who have survived the fight against cancer, as I’m sure many of yours have been as well. A close family friend of mine is a survivor of acute promyelocytic leukemia, and she is one of the most strong, compassionate, and loving individuals I have ever met. Her remission may not have been possible without the treatments that are a result of cancer research funded by organizations such as LLS. Without these organizations, my dear friend along with many survivors would not be able to impact others in the ways that they have.

This fundraising campaign is my way of contributing to saving the lives of patients suffering from Leukemia and Lymphoma, so that amazing individuals like my friend may beat cancer and continue to impact their loved ones. Great contributions to cancer research have been made throughout current years, however the fight for a cure is far from over. Leukemia still causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society supports research, education, and patient services that have benefited blood cancer patients as well as other cancer patients including brain, breast, kidney, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has invested over $1.2 billion in cutting-edge research, funded 15 of 18 FDA approved treatments, supported 227 research grants, and in turn helped lead advancements in other cancers and serious illnesses through their research. These remarkable achievements could not have been attained without the help of generous and caring individuals like you.

With this, I am asking for your thoughtful consideration in support of my endeavor and LLS’s mission to fight this battle against blood cancers by contributing to my campaign. Any donation will help make a difference in the lives of others, and I hope you can find it in your heart to help as much as you are able.

If you choose to donate, please use the link provided in this letter, or the enclosed response form, to make a tax-deducatable contribution to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Should you donate online to: https://events.lls.org/wi/madisonsoy19/gfellenz You should receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

Please feel free to contact me directly by phone at 414-881-8189 or by email at gabriellefellenzlls@gmail.com if you are interested in supporting my campaign in another way. Opportunities such as securing sponsorships, giving auction items, or inquiring about your company’s matching gift program that could possibly match your donation would be a great help as well.

I want to thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration and generosity in helping me with this campaign and for those of you willing to support me in my efforts to help the lives of patients affected by blood cancer.

Sincerely,

Gabrielle Fellenz

I am honored to participate in 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 be 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(s) 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.