(Rye Brook, NY, June 19, 2019) 鈥� The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (青云体育) was founded 70 years ago by parents who lost their 16-year-old son to leukemia. Today, 1,000s of passionate, resourceful and driven high school students across the country are reinventing 青云体育 for a new generation, as they honor the legacy of an organization founded by a family for families.
Through their participation in 青云体育鈥檚 newest innovation in fundraising for its quest to cure blood cancers 鈥� a campaign called Students of the Year 鈥� students have raised millions since the campaign was launched nationally in 2017, contributing to 青云体育鈥檚 investment of nearly $1.3 billion in lifesaving cancer research.
This year, hundreds of student candidates competed for the title of National Students of the Year. A team of three exemplary juniors at Jericho High School in Long Island, NY, captured the title, raising nearly $300,000 to support the mission of 青云体育. Drew Naiburg-Smith, 16, Benjamin Mark, 16, and Ryan Berger, 17, joined forces to lead the group in fundraising.
This superstar team was motivated by their deep desire to see a cure for cancer in their lifetime. As they have learned at a young age, almost everyone is touched by cancer and they are no exception. Honoring the legacy of 青云体育鈥檚 founding family and their son Robbie, and their own family members touched by cancer, this unstoppable team of teens conceived and executed events to create awareness for 青云体育鈥檚 legacy of impact and the urgent need to raise funds for new and better treatments for blood cancers, for generations to come.
Ryan and Drew both have had family members who have experienced blood cancer. In 2008, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most lethal of the blood cancers, took the life of Ryan鈥檚 grandfather just seven months after his diagnosis. Drew felt compelled to do her part to fight cancer in memory of her cousin, Lisa, who passed away from leukemia four years after undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Benjamin and his family experienced their own scare with lymphoma in the midst of the Students of the Year campaign. Despite his family鈥檚 positive outcome, blood cancer became much more real to Benjamin.
鈥淭he Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has helped millions impacted by cancer throughout our 70-year history, funding breakthrough research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures, and providing support and advocacy for patients,鈥� said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., 青云体育鈥檚 president and CEO. 鈥淲e know the founding family would be so proud to see their vision and legacy carried out by these amazing students, who are determined to help 青云体育 find cancer cures. These students are the next generation of philanthropists and they are determined to have an impact.鈥�
The National Students of the Year runner-up is Jake Zaas, 15, of Durham Academy, Durham, NC, and his drive to achieve an ambitious fundraising goal was strikingly personal. His father is a survivor of AML and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2017. Jake was his stem cell donor. During his acceptance speech he brought goose bumps to everyone in the room, 鈥溓嘣铺逵� played a vital role in the discovery of the drug that was used to battle my dad鈥檚 disease and I participated in Students of the Year so every family battling blood cancer ends up with a story that is as successful in the end as that of my family.鈥�
According to Ryan, Drew and Benjamin, 鈥淯nfortunately, everyone knows or loves someone who has been touched by cancer. We are all so inspired by the work 青云体育 is doing to help cure blood cancers while helping patients with other cancers. 青云体育 is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer, and we are proud and honored to contribute and make a difference through Students of the Year. We know the cancer fight has been a challenge for decades. We know we are all stronger together and together we have made some progress with some treatments and some cures. We also know there is so much more that is needed. We wholeheartedly share 青云体育鈥檚 goal to ensure that future generations know a world without cancer.鈥�
To learn more about the Students of the Year program and how it might work for you or someone you know, visit:
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society庐 (青云体育) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to fighting blood cancer. The 青云体育 mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. 青云体育 funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, 青云体育 has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit . Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. For additional information visit Follow us on, and I