Locals to Light the Night

Luekemia & Lymphona Society to host seventh annual fundraiser

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 6280 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 342, will be hosting its seventh annual Light the Night fundraising walks Thursday in Summerlin at The Hills Park, 9002 Hillpointe Road, and on Nov. 4 at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.

"Since there has been an overwhelming response to the events in previous years, this year, two separate walks will be held," said Executive Director of the nonprofit society's Southern Nevada Chapter, Judith Mitchell.

According to Mitchell, the walk is two to three miles and it is meant to be a relaxed easy stroll.

"There is no registration fee, but we do ask our participants to try to raise a minimum of $100 per person," she said. "The goal this year is to raise $150,000. And as of now, I think we'll get there." Last year, Mitchell said the goal was to raise $89,000 and the walk nearly missed that mark with $83,000 in donations.

During the event, participants carry illuminated balloons in specific colors to celebrate the lives of those affected by cancer. White balloons are carried by those who are cancer survivors and all others carry red ones. The balloons have a light inserted into the neck to create the illuminating glow, which lights the way of the walkers through the evening. "That's why it's called Light the Night," Mitchell said. "And it creates quite a scene."

Both events begin at 5 p.m. with food and entertainment, with the walks beginning at 7 p.m. The entertainment will include clowns and singing and dancing performed by the likes of the Summerlin Drill Team and The Cunninghams, to name a few.

"And if someone isn't in the condition to walk, they are still more than welcome to come out and enjoy the entertainment," Mitchell said.

"The Chaparral (High School) ROTC will have over 300 cadets perform the opening ceremony," said Gina Germany, campaign manager for the local Light the Night walks. "These kids are our future. I think it is absolutely wonderful to have them involved."

Last year Light the Night walks were held in 230 communities throughout the country, and more than 150,000 walkers participated.

"Right now we have a total of 108 teams registered," Germany said.

"We ask that the teams consist of 10 people," Mitchell said. "But a team could be 100 people or one person. We use the 10 people per team for our estimations."

Last year roughly 300 people walked in the event, according to Mitchell. This year the chapter hopes at least 800 people will participate in Summerlin and 400 in Henderson.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's first branch office in Nevada was opened in Las Vegas in 1998, which Mitchell spearheaded. In 2003 the office met the guidelines to become a chapter.

"Last year we helped over 55 newly diagnosed blood cancer patients," Mitchell said. "And we (Southern Nevada Chapter) provided $26,000 in direct financial aid. That goes to paying for medications, treatments, chemo drugs and many other related things."

The goal of the nationwide -- as well as Canadian -- voluntary organization is to fund blood cancer education, research and patient services. The society's long-term mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, myeloma and to improve the quality of life of those affected by the diseases.

The society was founded in 1949 in White Plains, N.Y., and has since provided more than $360 million for blood cancer research. There are currently 65 chapter offices in the country.

For more information, call 436-4220 or visit www.lls.org/snv.