Neighbor News
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light The Night Walk
Taking Steps to Find a Cure! Family, friends, corporate teams honors those touched by blood cancer at LLS's Light The Night Walk
Contact: Gregory R. Seitter
(610) 238-0360, Ext. 6796
Find out what's happening in Malvernfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Taking Steps to Find a Cure!
Family, Friends, and Corporate Teams Honors Those Touched by Blood Cancer at
Find out what's happening in Malvernfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk
Conshohocken, PA (October 1, 2014) – Over 2,000 people from Chester County and the surrounding areas will turn out for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk (LTN) on Saturday, October 18th, at Wilson Farm Park in Radnor Township. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and the Walk will start approximately at 6:30 p.m.
The Walk is an evening filled with inspiration. During the 2 mile leisurely walk, participants carry illuminated lanterns – white for survivors, red for supporters, and gold to honor the memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Thousands of walkers will form a community of support, care, and love, bringing light into the dark world of cancer.
Jennifer Smits of Malvern will be walking alongside her team, the Walking Warriors, made up of her friends and family. Smits was diagnosed with stage 3A Nodular Sclerosis Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in August 2011. After 12 chemotherapy treatments, five surgeries, and countless other obstacles – all while raising her two young children – Smits is proudly in remission.
“There are a few silver linings in the cancer journey and [Light The Night] is one of them,” said Smits. “I am so proud and honored to be a part of this team of family and friends gathering annually to support a cause so close to our hearts.”
Smits, whose sister is an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) survivor, encourages families battling cancer to participate in the Walk to learn that they are not alone in their fight.
“I [walk] not only to raise awareness of blood cancers and come closer to a cure, but to also show families going through what we went through that you will come out on the other side,” said Smits. “You will be okay and you are a survivor.”
There is no fundraising minimum to participate in the Walk, but every walker is encouraged to become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help fight blood cancer. Funds raised by teams and individual walkers will provide lifesaving blood cancer research; free educational materials and events for patients and their families; local programs, such as Family Support Groups and First Connection, a peer-to-peer counseling program; and comprehensive, personalized assistance.
“Light The Night Walk gives hope to patients and their families and lets them know that they are not alone in their battle against cancer,” said Ellen Rubesin, the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. “It is a night to pay tribute to lives touched by cancer, honor those we have lost, and celebrate the lives that have been saved.”
The Presenting Sponsor is Therakos. The Mission Experience Sponsor is J&J Development Group. Volunteer Experience is Janseen. Titanium Sponsor is UFCW1776. Gold Sponsor is Teva Oncology. Media Sponsors include Fox29, Main Line Today, Metro News, Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia magazine, and The Daily Local News.
The Walk last year raised $185,813 for the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. This year’s goal is $226,000. It is still not too late to register for Light The Night. For more information, please call (800) 482-2873 or visit www.lightthenight.org/epa.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada including the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
