Dear friends, 

I am honored to participate as a team member with my friend Gracie 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. I am proud to support LLS and am raising critical dollars in honor blood cancer patients. 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. 

I have a very personal connection to the LLS and blood cancers. My cousin Anthony was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Labor Day weekend 2016. He was seven years old. His lymphoma was located in his intestine lining. Anthony went through five rounds of chemotherapy at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. He fought hard. On January 3rd, 2017, Anthony was declared cancer free and rang the bell at Riley. He is still experiencing side effects of the powerful chemotherapy, but is doing well. 

In my community, a young girl named Harlow is suffering from blood cancer. She was seven years old in August 2017, when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Harlow was prescribed intense chemotherapy which caused her to fall into a very high risk category. Harlow is a tough fighter. She reached maintenance in June 2018, and continued her treatment through December 2019. Harlow is now nine years old and is a great role model for people everywhere. She is the Honored Hero for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2020 Students of the Year campaign. I want to make sure no person, child, or family has to go through this again.

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!

We really are changing the face of blood cancer! On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support!

-Lauren Baker

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.

LLS Statistics

LLS has invested nearly $1.3 billion in cutting edge cancer research since 1949

LLS helped advance 43 of the 49 blood cancer treatment options approved by the FDA since 2017

LLS had provided more than $431 million in co-pay financial assistance since 2007

Every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer

We want to help the LLS make a difference!!

Anthony during treatment

Anthony and Lauren in May of 2019

Lauren, Gracie, and honored hero Harlow!!!