One of Johnstown’s largest walks – the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk for blood cancer – is now seeking teams for its 16th annual event, to be held Oct. 3, at 5:30 p.m., at the Pitt-Johnstown campus.
To register, go to www.lightthenight.org, or call 412- 209-4332.
Last year, more than 750 friends, family and co-workers participated in this two-mile, non-competitive walk. Eighty-five teams contributed $101,000 toward LLS’ mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life for local patients and their families via financial support and lifesaving research.
This year’s Walk Chairs are husband and wife Dan Watson, vice president, Watson Insurance, and Elizabeth Watson, director of Specialty Leasing, Zamias Services Inc.
“We have a survivor in our family,” said Dan, “and we want to ensure that any child or adult who is diagnosed with a blood cancer will be cured. And funding qualified, innovative researchers is the answer to providing cures.”
On Oct. 3, the pre-walk entertainment and children’s activities begin at 5:30 p.m. behind Pitt’s Blackington Hall, with a Remembrance Ceremony at 6:15 p.m. The walk itself begins at 7:30 p.m.
“We’re so grateful that the Greater Alleghenies Light the Night Walk continues to grow larger each year,” states Light the Night Campaign Coordinator Angelina Shilcosky, who is a leukemia survivor. “I’m hoping we involve 1,000 walkers or more, because each participant and donation puts us one step closer to ending blood cancer in our lifetime.”
Blood cancer patients and survivors carry white illuminated lanterns in the walk, while other participants who raise $100-plus carry red and also receive an event shirt, food and beverage. Each team walking in memory of a loved one lost to blood cancer carries a gold lantern signifying remembrance.
Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Approximately every 10 minutes, someone dies. An estimated 1,012,533 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from a form of blood cancer.
The Light the Night Walk offers an environment for everyone impacted by the disease to interact and offer support to each other.