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Every year, communities across the nation come together to raise funds and support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night Walk – bringing hope to those battling blood cancers, sharing inspirational stories of those who’ve survived their battle, and remembering those who’ve sadly lost theirs. It’s an incredible evening celebrating camaraderie and community, with a most amazing visual display of unified support as participants create a floating field of flickering lights while carrying illuminated colored balloons representing survivors (white), friends and family supporters (red) and lost loved ones (gold).
“When our Evan was diagnosed with leukemia at only 23 months old, our lives changed forever,” says SCV Light The Night Walk Chair and Team Evan Captain, Marina Contreras, who still tears up remembering the day her family received the news four years ago. “It was so hard to even imagine how he was going to survive. Our family knew we had to band together and support one another through this terrifying journey.”
Since 2007, when Evan was first diagnosed, Team Evan has raised more than $80,000 for the SCV Light The Night Walk. Today, with the help of treatments that resulted from research funded by LLS, Evan is healthy, loves playing t-ball, and has just entered Kindergarten.
“By participating in Light The Night, I feel our family has grown to include so many others with little ones like our Evan who are on the same journey,” Marina continues. “We believe that every dollar we raise and every step we take when we walk brings us that one step closer to a LLS-funded researcher finding a cure so that all the Evans’ of the world will get to enjoy happy, healthy and long lives.”
LLS is the world’s largest health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Its mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Seventy-six cents of every dollar raised through events such as Light The Night goes directly to fulfilling that mission.
The 2011 SCV Light The Night Walk will be held on Saturday, October 29 at Bridgeport Park in Valencia. The festivities begin at 5 p.m., a Remembrance Ceremony is conducted at 6 p.m., and the Walk starts at twilight (approximately 7 p.m.). Fun Halloween activities will be featured for the kids.
To register or for more information, visit www.lightthenight.org/santaclarita, or contact Chandra Rulf at 310-846-4720 or Chandra.rulf@lls.org. |
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