Miami-Dade Youth Pioneering Blood Cancer Awareness and Advocacy in South Florida

Blood cancer accounts for about 10% of all diagnosed cancers in the United States. Most commonly diagnosed in children 5 years old or younger, leukemia is characterized as a blood cancer caused by a mutation in a person’s DNA due to an abnormal and excessive reproduction of white blood cells.

Studies show that every 3 minutes, one person in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer.

Survival rates for blood cancer vary by type and stage. Below is a list of the most common types of blood cancer and the 5-year survival rate for those 20 years older and younger: 

• • Leukemia: 89%
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: 91.3%
  • Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: Between 97% – 99%
  • Myeloma: 84%

Although blood cancer can affect anyone, certain types are more common in males. Additionally, leukemia affects people of all ages. In fact, childhood leukemia accounts for about 25% of all childhood cancers diagnosed. This is the primary driving factor that sparked Team CUREageous Fighters’ desire for blood cancer awareness and advocacy. 

Team CUREageous Fighters

Three young minds have been taking action to help those affected by leukemia and lymphoma by joining the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign.

The CUREageous Fighters team is led by the remarkable efforts of Jennifer Hoover who was a team member for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Students of the Year Campaign last year. She was inducted into the 5K Club and the Student Hall of Fame for her fundraising efforts. This year, she plans to use her interest and experience with the legal and political fields to promote advocacy for new legislation regarding blood cancer treatment.  

However, the CUREageous Fighters team would not be complete without the leadership of Ella Morejon and Victoria Vasquez. Their interests in the legal and medical fields have driven the team to more fundraising opportunities and further community awareness.

Creating awareness and promoting advocacy for this deadly illness is no easy task, but the CUREageous Fighters have accepted the challenge and are focused on achieving their goal of raising $25,000.