Sofia Kandoussi and Alex Wu, both juniors, were nominated this year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Student of Year to represent Harriton. Every year the society invites students from different high schools to compete to raise the most money for blood cancer. Then the leaders invite students onto their team to help them fundraise. The Harriton Banner sat down with Sofia Kandoussi to discuss the fundraiser and how the Harriton community can help them towards their goal.

Harriton Banner: What is the Leukemia Lymphoma Fundraiser?

Sofia Kandoussi: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Fundraiser is a 7-week competition in which high school students compete against each other to raise the most money to help battle and fund blood cancer research.

HB: Why and how did you become a leader of the Harriton Team?

SK: We were nominated by both Mrs. Marcuson and by Harriton’s previous LLS candidate, Catherine Liu. We choose to partake in this endeavor because both of us have been affected by Leukemia and other cancers in some way and wanted to support LLS’ great cause in anyway we could.

HB: What fundraisers are you doing? When?

SK: In addition to a Kickstarter Dinner, LLS Team Harriton plans on doing sport events as well as dances. However dates aren’t quite set yet.

HB: What is your fundraising goal?

SK: Our fundraising goal for this amazing charity is $30,000. So far we have received $5,000 in the span of 3 weeks. Now our current goal is to raise $25,000 in the next 4 weeks.

HB: You recently did a dinner. Can you tell me how you prepared for it and how did it go?

SK: Yes, Alex Wu and I have recently hosted a successful dinner for Leukemia and Lymphoma society. It didn’t take much time to prepare for this event, however without the help of our campaign, we wouldn’t of been able to successfully accomplish our event as well as went.

HB:How can the Harriton community help you reach your goal?

SK: The Harriton community can help Team Harriton in many ways such as supporting us by advertising our campaign’s goal, as well as spreading the word to help us find donors that would be willing to help us achieve our fundraising goal.