Thank you for supporting me and the more than 300,000 kids worldwide who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. By sharing the gifts of your time, talent and money with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, you're supporting research to give all kids with cancer a better chance for a cure. I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 4, and immediately began chemotherapy and high dose steroids. I responded well to treatment, and aside from some complications with my eyes, everything went relatively smoothly. After the standard 2.5 years of treatment, I went into remission. I went back to school, grew out my hair, and life was starting to get back to normal when a trip to the pediatrician yielded concerning results with the eye exam. A trip to my ophthalmologist revealed that a mass had detached my retina. A biopsy a few days later showed that it was leukemia- I relapsed with ALL at age eight. Again I started treatment, this time with cranial and orbital radiation, and responded well. I’ve chosen to take all of my experiences and use them as fuel to give back. I’ve been volunteering for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 5+ years, and have cumulatively raised over $80,000 for blood cancer research! My mom and I have vowed to keep on volunteering until no more children lose their childhoods, or their lives, to blood cancer. In September of 2022 I will be nine years cancer free!! I am arguably the healthiest I have ever been, though I am still dealing with some long term complications. Even so, I don’t let that stop me! I’m attending McDaniel pursuing my bachelors degree in Biology with a minor in forensic science, and I am also in the Honors program and in the tennis team.