Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer, and one out of every three diagnosed does not survive the first five years after their diagnosis. These are statistics that we are fighting to change.
Our names are Margaret Wheeler and Geena Howe. We're respectively a senior and junior at Bishop Dwenger High School, where we run cross country and track together. This year, we’ve committed ourselves to something different. We're dedicating ourselves to instilling positive change wherever we go, whether it's with a simple smile or through something more impactful, like our
Student Visionaries of the Year campaign.
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Margaret Wheeler (left) and Geena Howe (right)We were nominated to lead a campaigning team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student Visionaries of the Year campaign, a seven-week leadership development program. As a regional competition between teams to see which student-led team can raise the most funds, this program is the most successful and lucrative fundraiser from LLS.
The program includes working with a team of fellow students, raising awareness and fundraising to help support cancer patients and groundbreaking cancer research. Students like Geena and myself work together to hold fundraising events, try to secure corporate sponsorships, and, most importantly, get the word out about LLS.
LLS and the help they give is a greatly kept secret, but that is the exact opposite of what we want as Student Visionaries.
LLS helps cancer patients secure grants to pay for their treatment, supports policy change to ensure that cancer treatments are accessible to all, and funds innovative treatment projects. 1,960 patients and caregivers have been served through LLS’s education and support programs in 2024 in Indiana alone, and LLS has awarded over $1.5 billion in patient financial assistance since 2007.
We want everyone to know about LLS and how we can help, especially those who can benefit the most from LLS– cancer patients and their families, so we’re working to spread the word.
So far, we have held a bake sale with another fundraising team, and we are in the middle of a month-long campaign of raising awareness and receiving donations at Fort Wayne Nissan and Infiniti of Fort Wayne that culminates in an event at Fort Wayne Nissan on February 26 from 5-6 p.m. There will be treats, snacks, and opportunities to learn more about our team and mission– plus a few employees will be shaving their heads/beards to raise awareness for blood cancer. We are also in the process of organizing events with Combat Ops, dine-and-donate events with local restaurants, a fun run, an awareness week, and so much more.
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A bake sale, held as part of the Student Visionaries of the Year campagin.Our team,
Team Hopeful Hearts, is specifically focused on research. LLS is the leader in blood cancer research, funding projects that have produced over 70% of FDA-approved blood cancer treatments since 2016, and currently supports 289 researchers, who are working diligently to find safe, caring, and effective new cancer treatments.
Most of us don’t have to look far to find a connection to cancer. Some of us have had cancer, and some of us have witnessed someone fight cancer, supporting them through the process. In our community, there have been countless tears shed due to cancer journeys, whether tears of sorrow or tears of joy and hope. We’re fighting for more of the latter.
Leukemia is the number one diagnosed type of childhood cancer, and LLS is investing well over $100 million over the next five years to reimagine pediatric blood cancer treatment. One major reason why Geena and I were drawn to this program, and to supporting research was because of LLS’s
Dare to Dream Project, a $175 million campaign that focuses on finding precise treatments for kids to lessen chronic side effects, and helps young cancer patients to pursue their education, career goals, and dreams with financial aid and other support. We want to help all cancer patients to thrive and be able to pursue their dreams wholeheartedly.
The face of our Northeast Indiana Student Visionaries of the Year campaign this year is Olivia. She loves listening to K-Pop, singing and dancing, eating seafood, and watching her favorite movie, Ratatouille. Just before her 11th birthday, Olivia was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The past few years have entailed intense treatment including chemotherapy, but Olivia has continued smiling through it all. This May, Olivia is hoping to ring the bell that she is in remission and finally done with treatment. LLS research and efforts are working to ensure that Olivia, and others like her, will remain in remission, and not have to suffer the same pain again.
The difference that we can make is so much greater when we work together, so we need your help. If you are able, please donate to support our mission of research and patient support and advocacy
here.
We also need help spreading the word! If you know of a business that would like to sponsor us or help us out in any way, please
reach out via email, or through
our Instagram. Talk to those you know about our team, our mission, and LLS’s powerful work.
Thank you!
To stay up-to-date with all our events and to learn more about blood cancer and our mission to eradicate it,
follow us on Instagram.
To learn more about LLS,
visit their website.