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Boy & Girl of the Year
The Minnesota Chapter's Boy & Girl of the Year
The Boy & Girl of the Year are local children battling blood cancers who serve as motivation and inspiration to Man & Woman of the Year candidates in their competition to raise funds and win the titles.
Boy of the Year
Will Pogue
Five-year-old Will Pogue was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) in May of 2008. He had intense chemo treatment because he has a chromosome that helps the leukemia. He is currently in remission, and started maintenance therapy this past summer. Will loves anything with wheels: cars, trucks, ATVs, motorcycles, trains and planes. He enjoys baseball and hockey and going to games. Will's favorite vacation spot is Arizona, and he wants to fly airplanes when he grows up. Will lives in Delano with his parents Jamie and Wes, and his sister Athena. He has four dogs named Summit, Rossi, Bailey and Jake, and one cat named Marley. LLS has helped to pay for a lot of the medicines he has to take everyday that insurance doesn't fully cover. 'There are lots of kids like me, and they need and deserve help," says Will. "This is a really bad disease and I want to stop it from happening to other kids."
Girl of the Year
Paige Pedersen
Seven-year-old Paige Pedersen was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) in November of 2008. Treatment was very hard at first with lots of tough procedures. Paige says that treatment is easier now that she is in maintenance. Paige likes basketball, hockey, swimming, soccer and reading, and loves to eat Mexican food! She would like to be a nurse or work with her daddy at Edward Jones when she grows up. Paige's favorite books are Dr. Seuss and Froggy books, and her best vacation was to Mexico. She loves school, and this year is in the first grade at Hillside Elementary. Paige lives in Cottage Grove with her parents Anne and Craig, and siblings Abby and Sydney. She has a dog named Zara and a hamster named Whiskers. LLS has helped her family by giving them good educational materials, so they could make informed decisions.
