'Light The Night' Held ThursdayHundreds of people were on hand for the annual Light The Night walk despite the less-than-stellar weather.
The event, hosted by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Indiana Chapter, was held in Winona Lake Thursday evening with people gathering at Grace College's Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Dr. Dane Miller, along with Steve Miller, CEO of Kosciusko Community Hospital, spoke to the crowd.But the featured speak was Bill Crane, Winona Lake. Crane was the Honored Hero of the event.
In January 2008, Crane was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He told the crowd that after undergoing treatment, he is now classified as having low-grade leukemia.
Crane credits working with the blood cancer society.
Crane, a self-described "workaholic," began volunteering in 1996.
Crane said he was overweight and out of shape, but by working with the society he turned his life around.
Through his work there, he became interested in running marathons.
He ran his first marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1996, and has run in more than 20 since.
"I've often said that I've worked with the society so long that that's where I caught (leukemia)," joked Crane.
But Crane spoke passionately about his work for the society and what it's done for him.
"I guess I've been paying it forward with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," said Crane. "I'm so thankful for what the society has done with my treatment. I'm so thankful for what the society has done. I'm thankful for the doctors and the research people."
After thanking his doctor at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Dr. Musaberk Goskel, Crane was eager to start the event.
"Let's start the walk," said Crane.
And with that command, the crowd, holding red, white and gold balloons with lights underneath them, gathered along Park Avenue in Winona Lake, and with a police escort began the walk that wound through town.
Those carrying white balloons symbolized those who survived a blood cancer, while those carrying gold balloons were walking for someone with a blood cancer, and red balloons were for supporters.
Before Crane spoke, there was a video montage of people in the area who are battling blood cancers and those who lost their fight with them.
In 2008, the local Light The Night walk raised more than $47,000. This year's goal was to raise more than $53,000. Final numbers weren't available as of this morning.
