Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Kicks Off 'Light The Night Walk'
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Kicks Off 'Light The Night Walk'
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Kicks Off 'Light The Night Walk'WINONA LAKE - More than 894,000 Americans are battling leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma, and every four minutes a person loses their battle.
The annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk corporate kickoff breakfast was Tuesday morning at Boathouse Restaurant, Winona Lake.
Crystal Jones, campaign director, spoke during the breakfast.Jones said the society has invested more than $600 million in blood cancer research since the organization was founded in 1949, and $71.4 million was invested in 2008.
The society's Light The Night Walk is Sept. 24 in Winona Lake. Walkers will gather at Rodeheaver Auditorium. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the walk begins at 7 p.m.
Walkers raise funds for blood cancer research for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The walk is a national walk, and with walks also scheduled in Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis.
More than 600 walkers participated during last year's walk in Winona Lake and raised more than $49,000 to fight blood cancers. This year's fundraising goal is $53,000.
Walkers during the two-mile walk carry illuminated balloons with white representing survivors, red for supporters, and gold for those walking in memory of a loved one.
This year's walk honoree is lymphoma survivor Bill Crane, Warsaw.
More than a year ago, Crane was diagnosed with lymphoma blood cancer. He will walk with his team "Team Running Bird."
He said he now receives a blood test every year. He encouraged those who attended the kickoff to also get a blood test every year.
A doctor advised him he did not like the look of some of his cells and advised him to see a hematologist. Crane received a bone marrow test and his lymphoma was detected early.
"I am so blessed because 12 years ago 80 percent of people who had blood cancers were in crisis, and only 20 percent were doing well," Crane said.
He said if it wasn't for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's blood cancer research he would not have the doctors and medicine to recover.
This year's corporate walk chairs are Dane Miller, Biomet, and Steve Miller, Kosciusko Community Hospital CEO.
Miller said there are three ways for people to participate: by forming a corporate walk team, becoming a corporate sponsor, or becoming a retail partner with the walk balloon sales program.
"I think this is truly an organization that has made a difference," Miller said.
He said the walkers are the backbone of the walk and consist of co-workers, families and friends.
For more information about the walk or to form a team, visit www.lls.org or call Crystal Jones at 317-726-2275 or e-mail her at crystal.jones@lls.org
