My name is Taelyn Haney and I am a freshman at West Linn High School. I am so honored to be selected as a candidate for the 2020 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which select high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Each dollar raised is a vote. The candidate team that raises the most money (votes) at the end of the seven weeks is named Student of the Year! Team Kickin’ Out Cancer’s mission is to not only raise the most money, but also bring attention to blood cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

When I get older, I want to be a pediatric doctor. I was inspired when I learned about LLS’s Children’s Initiative. The Children’s Initiative is a $100 million multi-year endeavor to create targeted blood cancer therapies for children. I can’t believe only four cancer treatments have been approved for children in the last 40 years. That means most often children are given treatments tested on adults. Hopefully not anymore.

I’m excited to be a part of something bigger than myself. It’ll take me years to become a doctor, but with LLS and your donation, I have an amazing opportunity to help patients and their families now!

From now until March 6th, Westlake will match employee contributions, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $5,000. In addition, an anonymous donor has promised to match every dollar donated! Money raised will go to funding research programs and to helping families struggling with the high cost of care. You can learn more about our partnership with LLS by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your support – let’s Kick Out Cancer together!

Taelyn Haney