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The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is asking building managers in towns and cities across the country to join The Empire State Building in this campaign by lighting their buildings to support the Society's Light The Night Walk, a nationwide evening walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. The walk will take place Sept. 21 to 24 in 170 U.S. cities. The skyscraper campaign will also recognize Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, which takes place in September.
"We are thrilled that they are lighting the way and hope that others throughout the country — whether they are in small towns or big cities — follow their lead."
"The Empire State Building is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks," said Tamra Lineberger, national director of campaign development for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "We are thrilled that they are lighting the way and hope that others throughout the country — whether they are in small towns or big cities — follow their lead."
Buildings will be lit in red and white to mirror The Light The Night Walk, in which hundreds of thousands of walkers throughout the country will carry illuminated red balloons and cancer survivors will carry white balloons. Now in its second year, the walk is expected to raise $10 million for research and patient services. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (formerly the Leukemia Society of America) is the world's largest private organization dedicated to finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, which affect 600,000 Americans.
The Light The Night Walk is an event that carries a sense of magic and purpose like no other. Against the evening sky, a parade of flickering red and white balloons will wind in a two-three mile walk in towns and neighborhoods to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. Companies, families, and neighbors are encouraged to form teams and individual walkers are welcome to walk as well. There is no registration fee, and while the average participant will raise nearly $100, those who raise $25 or more will carry one of the unique Light The Night Walk illuminated balloons. Funds raised will support the important mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dedication-Banners will be displayed at each walk to give everyone an opportunity to leave a name or post a message in honor or memory of a family member or friend with cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will fund more than 400 researchers for a total of $34 Million this year, the highest level of research funding in the Society's history. "Light The Night is one of our largest fund-raising events," said Lineberger. "The more successful this event is, the more we will be able to keep up the momentum in committing more funds to promising research projects."
Last month, the Society announced a major new research initiative, which funds three special research centers at a total of $22.5 Million over three years. Among the projects funded is one that will develop a drug dubbed the "leukemia pill." Early clinical trials of this drug have shown dramatic results against chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), with few side effects. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has helped to fund research for this new treatment. Since the Society's inception in 1949, it has provided more than $200 Million in research funding.
To find out how to join the Light The Skyscrapers Campaign or where to walk in your city, please visit The Light The Night Walk web site, call toll free 877-LTN-WALK, or call your local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Source: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
CMLSupport Home Page This site was last updated on Sept. 16, 2000 Copyright © 2000 Jennifer M. Gangloff. These contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the author, or she will beat you up and stuff. |