The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to curing blood cancers. The Student Visionaries of the Year is a unique philanthropic leadership program for high school students offered through LLS. In this program, young leaders participate in a seven-week journey to raise funds to help eradicate blood cancers. Students form teams of one to three members and run in honor of a local pediatric blood cancer survivor. Participants choose a mission pillar either for research, patient support or policy and advocacy based on what they are most passionate about. Team leaders recruit members of all ages to assist in fundraising efforts. Throughout the campaign, LLS staff collaborate with teams to develop successful strategies. After the seven weeks, a Grand Finale Celebration is held. There, the total funds raised are announced alongside the winner who raised the most money. This program provides its participants with leadership and teamwork skills and helps raise crucial funds for blood cancer.
Last year, I formed a team with friends Haym Suissa and Cooper Winter. Our decision to participate was not just about gaining leadership experience. It was extremely personal. Haym’s mother, Cynthia, had battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma twice and was hospitalized in December 2023 due to severe complications from her treatment. She had to undergo a lung transplant. Witnessing her struggles made it clear that competing was not just about raising money; it was about supporting people fighting for their lives. Thinking about Cynthia, we chose the research mission pillar. We believe raising money to invest in innovative treatments would have the most long-term impact. This personal connection drove our passion and determination throughout the process.
Our journey began in September 2023, months before the campaign started. Over the next several months, we dedicated ourselves to carefully planning our fundraising strategy. We held countless team meetings, brainstorming creative ways to maximize donations. We contacted family members, friends, local businesses and corporate sponsors, hoping to find contributors to our cause. Our most significant success was hosting a basketball tournament that brought people together while serving as a fundraising effort. We charged entry fees and secured sponsorships from local businesses. The tournament was a fun and impactful way to raise funds.
By the end of the seven weeks, our team had raised a total of $77,000 for blood cancer research. This was a testament to our immense efforts. At the Grand Finale Celebration, we were thrilled to learn that we had won the Research Mission Pillar Award, recognizing our dedication to funding research. Seeing our hard work pay off in such a meaningful way was an incredible feeling. The most rewarding part of this experience was knowing that our efforts were making a real difference.
After such a fulfilling experience, we knew we wanted to continue. Cooper, Haym and I decided to compete again this year, determined to take our fundraising efforts to an even higher level. Now that we fully understand the process, we believe we can win. With our prior experience, we are approaching this year’s campaign with even greater ambition. We have new fundraising ideas, stronger connections and a deeper understanding of what works. Most importantly, we are still driven by the same motivation to fight against blood cancer and support the LLS cause. The competition only began two weeks ago, and we have already raised $50,000!
With five weeks ahead, we are extremely motivated to pass our previous achievements and make an even more significant impact. If you are interested in joining my team, starting your own, or making a donation to support this cause, visit the LLS page. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to a world without blood cancer!
