Festival Hopes to Help Teen With Brain Cancer

In April, nearly 300 residents came out to support one of Long Valley's teens battling brain cancer, to the tune of $36,000 in donations.

That was the Rally in the Valley for Glenn Lightner, held at to benefit its namesake and help his family pursue alternative medicine overseas with the hopes of curing his grade III anapestic ependymoma, which he’s been battling since 2007.

While more than $120,000 was raised for the family overall in 2012 to help with their endeavor, the cost for the teen to receive treatment has begun to eclipse the funds.

But the community that has backed the family from the start won’t waver, with another ‘rally’ upcoming.

On Sunday, Sept. 23 at Ort Farms on Bartley Road, from noon to 5 p.m., the Festival of Hope will include live entertainment, food and fun for all ages, with proceeds benefitting the Lightner family.

The event will also include 50/50 raffles. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. There is a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 30.

The initial phase of the overseas plan cost the Lightners $70,000 for three months worth of living expenses and medical treatments. That left them with roughly $50,000 at the start of August, just before Glenn Lightner headed back to Germany for follow up therapies.

There is no registration required for the Festival of Hope. Organizers ask attendees to bring their own blankets or chairs if they attend to stay for a lengthy period of time.

To see continuing coverage of Glenn Lightner’s journey, go here.