The National Honors Society has begun their Code for a Cure fundraiser, aimed toward raising 2,500 dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The fundraiser is scheduled through October 4th, with QR codes readily available around the school for you to donate.
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood, originating in the bone marrow, that can cause cells to be produced irregularly. There are two different types of Lymphoma, Hodgkin, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic system, whereas Hodgkin Lymphoma originates in the immune system, creating Reed-Sternberg cells, which are “large, abnormal lymphocytes” National Cancer Institute.
Accumulating for a total of 3.2% of all cancer cases, over 450,000 Americans have been diagnosed with Leukemia. As for Lymphoma, there are over 900,000 confirmed cases of Lymphoma in the United States.
Although there is no cure for these cancers, doctors and scientists work around the clock looking for one. In fact, the five year survival rate for Leukemia has over doubled, going from 34% in 1977, to over 70% in 2019.
As for Hodgkin Lymphoma, the five year survival rate has increased as well, going from 73% in 1977, to 89% in 2019. Meanwhile Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, the five year survival rate has greatly increased too, going from 46% in 1977, to 74% in 2019.
All information obtained from lls.org
Being some of the most common cancers, some here at Erie High School have loved ones affected by Leukemia or Lymphoma. Of which include Jennifer Wehmeyer, Holly Czernicki, and Gretchen Hall.
With the National Honor Society’s Code for a Cure fundraiser, only a two dollar donation from every student would nearly double the goal of $2500, “but they have a website that you can visit any time of year, and there are opportunities for people to create their own teams, or their own events“ -Gretchen Hall. One of the best ways to help, is to simply raise awareness to the cause. Social media is one of the best ways to gain awareness of any issue, and it certainly is for this.
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