Why We Give: Blood Cancer United

Why We Give: Blood Cancer United By KSTP KSTP is excited to present our annual #whywegive initiative. KSTP supports a variety of charities throughout the year by running Public Service Announcements and airing the amazing stories demonstrating the impact that these organizations have in our community. Why We Give: Blood Cancer United 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS supports Blood Cancer United because of the group’s support of blood cancer patients and their families, anchor Matt Belanger shares. Bailey Johnson is a fifth-grade teacher at Johnsville Elementary School in Blaine, something she says she “always wanted to be.” “The part I love the most though is making a difference in kids lives,” said Johnson. But in her first year of teaching, her life got turned upside down. “I was actually up teaching in front of this room and I decided I was too sick I couldn’t make it through the day so I left and that same day I went to the ER they told me you have some form of cancer,” Johnson said. “My first thought wasn’t even about me it was, ‘Oh my gosh, I just left a classroom full of students. Who is going to teach them the rest of the year,'” she added. Johnson was diagnosed with leukemia. She said Blood Cancer United helped her through months of treatment. “I had a pretty intense type of AML and getting to be here today after receiving all that treatment makes a difference and a lot of that stems from Blood Cancer United and all the work they are doing,” said Johnson. Now, Johnson has been cancer-free for just over a year. She recently shared her story on stage at Blood Cancer United’s Light The Night event in St. Paul. The community event honors survivors, remembers lives lost and raises money for research and new treatments. That’s why we give at 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. What’s your cause?