High Hopes to End Blood Cancer
Photo Submitted by Emmie Corbin
Emmie Corbin
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a cause near to my heart. In the summer of 2022, I lost my amazing grandfather after a long battle with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. What helped me through my grief the most was the support of my close friends, including Maddie Hatfield and Skylar Consiglio. Through this experience, I understood that support is absolutely crucial in the fight against cancer and the hardships that emerge from it. Cancer impacts nearly everyone, and as a community, we are responsible for uplifting those who are facing their hardest battles. From this realization, Maddie, Skylar, and I created High Hopes–a team of dedicated individuals who are raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and fostering hope for a blood cancer-free future.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) changes lives, and has been doing so for decades. It was founded in 1949 by a grieving family of a 16 year old boy, Robert “Robbie” Roesler de Villiers, who passed away from leukemia in 1944. At the time, leukemia was considered “100% fatal.” Five years after the boy’s passing, frustrated by the lack of treatment options, his family started this nonprofit in his honor.
Since 1949, LLS has invested nearly 1.6 billion dollars into research, treatments, and hopefully, one day, a cure. Thanks to the hard work of LLS, that cure might be closer than we think. According to their website, the nonprofit has helped advance 70% of the revolutionary blood cancer treatment options approved by the FDA since 2017, and they have funded nearly 200 research grants worldwide. Most importantly, LLS gives direct support to the people who need it most. They have provided more than 234 million dollars in co-pay assistance for people who would have otherwise found lifesaving treatment financially unattainable. LLS truly serves as a voice for blood cancer patients and their families.
LLS’s Student Visionaries of the Year program is one way for the community to get involved. As one of many teams of high school students fundraising around southeastern Wisconsin, High Hopes is working to raise money by establishing connections with local businesses, planning community events, and more. All the while, our team members are developing leadership, communication, financial literacy, and marketing skills that will prepare us for our futures. The goal for all LLS Student Visionaries of the Year teams is to raise as much money as possible in a 7-week period, from February 21 to April 14. You can make an impact, too; if you are interested in contributing to our team’s efforts, the link below will take you to a High Hopes fundraising page!
