The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Athens Light The Night Walk Kicks Off 2013 Campaign

Athens participants of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2013 Light The Night® Walk will rally their forces for the fall campaign with a Kick Off Party on Tuesday, July 16th from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Cine Athens. The event will give participants an opportunity to get excited about the fall walk, and to get tips about fundraising and pick up supplies and materials.   Participants are encouraged to form walk teams to take part in the October 4th event. Team members who raise $100 or more are Champions for Cures and will be recognized with the walk’s signature illuminated balloon - white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer – as well as a commemorative T-shirt and wristband for refreshments.

Each year, in communities all across the United States and Canada, teams of families, friends, co-workers and local and national corporations come together to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Light The Night® Walk events and bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers. Millions of consumers also help by donating at retail outlets.   Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration, when thousands of walkers - men, women and children - form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.

“Our Light The Night  Walk gives hope to patients and their families and lets them know they are not alone in their battle against cancer,” said Jessica Reijmer, Athens Walk Manager.   “We are looking forward to a fun and successful walk.”  The 2013 Athens Light The Night  Walk is generously sponsored by: Athens Regional Health System, St. Mary’s Health Care System, Bone Dry Roofing Company, Zaxby’s, Magic 102, Power 100 and the Georgia Pest Control Association. 

In Georgia, Light The Night’s fundraising efforts include a total of five Walks throughout the state and has grown from $460,000 in 2003 to more than $2.1 million statewide in 2012.  This year’s Athens Walk is set for Friday, October 4th at The Classic Center.  Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. and the stage program begins at 7:00 p.m., rain or shine.  Funds raised will be used to support lifesaving blood cancer research, free educational materials and events for patients and families, local family and patient support programs and comprehensive, personalized assistance through LLS’s Information Resource Center and financial aid for patients and their families.

Last year, more than $54 million was raised through Light The Night Walks in approximately 200 communities in North America and Canada. To form a team or to learn more, please call the Georgia Chapter toll-free at (800) 399-7312 or visit www.lightthenight.org/ga.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. 
 
The Georgia Chapter serves patients with a variety of programs including the Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program, the Trish Greene Back to School program for children with cancer and Financial Assistance Programs which last year provided over $1.59 million to patients statewide. Currently, the Georgia Chapter funds $2.75 million towards research grants in multi-year agreements with Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Georgia Regents University. There were approximately 3,650 new diagnoses for blood cancer in Georgia in 2011.