Nashville-based High
Schoolers Named Runners-Up in LLS's Philanthropic Campaign &
First-Ever Team Member of the Year Title Awarded to Houston High School Student; Funds Raised Will
Help Improve the Lives of Blood Cancer Patients & Their
Families
RYE
BROOK, N.Y., June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lia
Bhatia and Hailey Miller of
Los Angeles, CA have been named
2024 National Student Visionaries of the Year by The Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society (LLS). Raising just over an
impressive $650,000 in just seven weeks, their
fundraising total surpassed those of 1,100 teams competing across
the U.S. for the coveted national title in the Student
Visionaries of the Year campaign, LLS's groundbreaking
philanthropic leadership development program for high school
students, which raised $42
million overall this year. Their outstanding efforts will
help LLS continue to carry out its mission to improve the lives of
those impacted by blood cancer through research, support and
advocacy.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9184554-lls-announces-2024-national-student-visionaries-of-the-year/
Bhatia and Miller were recently named the 2024 Student
Visionaries of the Year for LLS's Greater LA Region, raising the
most funds of the 23 teams competing in their community. Driven by
a passion to make a difference and Miller's recent loss of a
relative to leukemia, they formed Team Hope for a Cure and worked
tirelessly – including through spring break – to reach their goals
ultimately earning them the national title. Bhatia and Miller held
23 sponsorship meetings in just five weeks and coached a team of 14
of their peers' fundraising efforts which included a letter-writing
campaign and networking within their communities.
"Since I was a little girl, I have cared about making a
difference. This experience with LLS has been an incredible
opportunity to change lives and bring a cure for cancer closer to
reality by funding groundbreaking research such as cancer vaccines,
CAR-T cell therapy, and gene treatment. We have learned invaluable
lessons, met people who care about making the world better, and are
inspired to continue to do work that will help others," said
Bhatia.
"Participating in LLS's Student Visionaries of the Year with my
best friend was an amazing experience. We have been finding ways to
give back since we were seven years-old and we are excited about
this recognition from LLS for a cause that means so much to both of
us," said Miller.
Sophia Crockett and Emma Weaver of Nashville, TN, have been named LLS's National
Student Visionaries of the Year runners-up. Named the local top
fundraisers for the 2024 Student Visionaries of the Year title in
LLS's Tennessee-Alabama Region, raising an
impressive $648,000. With both high schoolers
having family members impacted by blood cancer, Crockett and Weaver
formed Team CPA, Secure the Cure. Friends, family, and their
community rallied around their extraordinary efforts to support
LLS's mission, which included a songwriter's event that raised more
than $200,000.
"Blood cancer has touched people close to me, I wanted to do
something that would make a difference in their honor," said
Weaver.
"It was an honor to team up with someone who has also been
deeply affected by blood cancer to support such an important
cause," said Crockett.
And for the first time, LLS's Student Visionaries of the Year
recognized the efforts of individual team members in each region
who have raised the most funds across all of the organization's
campaigns. This year, LLS named Andrew
Lim of Houston as its 2024 National Team Member of the Year.
Lim, who was part of Team Banking on a Cure, raised
nearly $115,000 for
LLS's mission.
Lim fundraised through LLS campaigns in honor of his aunt who
was diagnosed with a rare cancer said, "The disease has changed (my
aunt) Joann's life... in the current climate, it is crucial for us
to proactively address and bring attention to alarming and
life-threatening illnesses like this. I am dedicated to advocating
for people like Joann."
"We are so grateful for the commitment and dedication of all of
our Student Visionaries of the Year candidates and their teams
whose efforts help improve the lives of blood cancer patients and
moves LLS closer to finding cures," said Coker Powell, Executive Vice President and Chief
Revenue Officer for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
For more information about LLS's 2024 Student Visionaries of the
Year, visit: https://www.llsstudentvisionaries.org/.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the global leader in
the fight against blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia,
lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality
of life of patients and their families. LLS 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, LLS has regions throughout
the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org.
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 lls.org/lls-newsnetwork.
Follow us
on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Media Contact:
Amanda King, The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society
Amanda.King@lls.org
718-772-6302
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/14-year-old-high-school-students-from-los-angeles-earn-the-leukemia--lymphoma-societys-lls-2024-national-student-visionaries-of-the-year-title-302183800.html
SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society