Home » Community » Team Yosemite Falls Raises Hope For Blood Cancer Patients

Team Yosemite Falls Raises Hope For Blood Cancer Patients

OAKHURST — Right now, more than one million Americans are fighting or are in remission from blood cancers.

Yosemite Falls student Kyra Cole is currently raising money to help the cause, as a 2017 Student of the Year Candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

“I have been nominated to be a part of an organization that will help those living with blood cancer,” Kyra says.

“It is an honor to be a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s first Student of the Year fundraising challenge. I get a chance to make a difference in not just one, but many lives across the country.”

Kyra’s Team Yosemite Falls plans to work toward the goal of raising $10,000 during the seven weeks from January 19 to March 11.

“In the United States, one person dies from a type of blood cancer about every nine minutes,” the high school junior reports. “This tells us about 160 people a day die from blood cancer which equals to about six people every hour. About 10.2 percent of the people diagnosed with cancer in 2016 had a type of blood cancer, which includes leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.”

The Leukemia & Lymphoma society is the largest contributor to blood cancer research in the nation, notes Kyra, having invested over $1 billion in research to date.

“I am honoring those who who have battled blood cancers and raising money that will go directly to the organization in support of its longstanding mission to find a cure and help improve the current living conditions of the patients and their families.”

Kyra, 16, says she is working to increase awareness about the impact of blood cancers and the cutting edge treatments that are currently being researched, as well as inspire others to join the fight to find a cure.

“About 5,413 children that are younger than 20 years old were diagnosed with leukemia in the year 2016. Leukemia still causes more deaths than any other cancer among children today. My campaign provides an opportunity to support the critical work of LLS in fighting these diseases. It would mean a lot to me and those affected by cancer if you would consider donating to our campaign.”

Kyra explains that she first became interested in the organization and its mission as a way to round out her experiences by volunteering, in preparation for the college admissions process. Somewhere along the line, her goals began to align.

“My reasons for doing this started to change because I had friends come up to me telling me their story and wanted to help spread the word. In the beginning, my reasons were about college. Later on, it changed to help the people in my community, my friends, the people that now have cancer as well, and hopefully try to change their outlook on this. The majority of my focus is no longer my own future,” says Kyra, “but other people’s, and how this could affect them. ”

To donate online, or see more information, please visit Team Yosemite Falls’ fundraising webpage.

If you would prefer to donate with a check please make your check payable to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and print “Team Yosemite Falls” in the “Memo” section, Kyra requests. The deadline for receiving contributions is February 27. Please note: donations are tax deductible.

“Aside from donations, we would love to hear from you or someone you know who would be willingly to donate good or services for auction items, sponsorship ads, or other possible fundraising opportunities. Large or small, your contribution to this worthy effort will be greatly appreciated.”

To help be part of the cure and help Kyra’s Team compete in the Student of the Year campaign, please contact kyracole00@gmail.com or lporter@yosemiteusd.org.

For more information about LLS and Student of the Year, please visit www.bit.ly/SOYLLS.

Leave a Reply

Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online