Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Local representatives met Tuesday morning at a brunch hosted by Dr. Dane Miller, CEO of Biomet, to kick off the Leukemia Society's "Light the Night Walk," which will be Sept. 22 in Winona Lake.
Funds raised by the walk go to research to help find cures for blood cancers -Êleukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma -Êand to improve the lives of patients.
Last year's walk in Winona Lake raised more than $40,000, of which 95 percent - almost 20 percent more than the national average - went directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Donations this year are expected to increase, as contributions already are ahead of this time in 2004.
Biomet again is a presenting sponsor of this year's event, donating $5,000.
The honoree for this year's walk will be Max Elliott, son of local residents Matt and Kristin Elliott. Max, age 4, was diagnosed with leukemia max in January. Matt is an employee of Zimmer, who also supports the event.
Bill Crane, with Genesis Management Services and a society board member who has worked with the northeast Indiana group for eight years, kicked off the brunch. He said, "Ten years ago, 80 percent of those with leukemia and other blood cancers died. Since then, cures and treatments have been found for 90 percent of the cancer."
Chemotherapy outlined for Max is a three-year and three-month program at Riley and Lutheran hospitals. He will receive treatments every week for the first year and every month for the next two years. This program was the result of research done in the past 10 years.
Miller said, "We anticipate another great event this year. We appreciate everyone's support. It's amazing what's been accomplished in the last 10 to 25 years."
Ben Woodcox, Beacon Credit Union, is the local event coordinator, with Mary Crane as co-chairperson and Patrick Brown, WRSW, publicity chairperson. Also present at the kickoff from the northeast Indiana branch were: Pat Spahr, executive director; Debbie Sutherland, special events coordinator; and Vicky Tippmann, Light the Night coordinator.
Woodcox said, "There are three ways to support the society and walk - as a corporate sponsor giving a cash donation; by forming a team; and through individual donations. A $1,000 corporate sponsorship will place the company logo on the Light the Night T-shirts, which will be displayed on more than 3,000 T-shirts in the walks across northern Indiana."
Walk participants who raise more than $25 will carry illuminated balloons. Walkers who raise $100 or more will receive a T-shirt. Several other prizes are available. For more information, call Tippmann at 877-422-8389, or e-mail Tippmannv@lls.org To register a team online visit www.lightthenight.org/in or mail the form to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Northeast Indiana Branch, 2000 N. Wells St., Building 5, Fort Wayne, IN 46808.
This is the fourth year for the walk in Winona Lake. The local walk was initially the only walk in the United States to be held outside metropolitan areas. Other 2005 walk sites in Indiana are: Sept. 17, Riehle Plaza, downtown Lafayette; Sept. 18, northwest Indiana, Lake County Fairgrounds; Sept. 20, northeast Indiana, East Noble High School; Sept. 25, Fort Wayne, Lutheran Hospital Campus; and Oct. 2, Indianapolis area, Victory Field, downtown Indianapolis.
