Light the Night fundraising walk set

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will hold its annual Light the Night fundraising walk in Queens on Saturday, October 13, at which point about 1,500 people will come out to show their support for the organization.
Although this marks the seventh year for Light the Night in Queens, it is the first year that the walk is being held in Forest Park. Michael Osso, the Executive Director of the society, said that the change of location was to make it more centralized and accessible for everyone in the borough.
During the Queens walk last year, there were an estimated 1,500 participants, including some survivors, and almost $200,000 was raised. The society also stages a walk in Manhattan and one on Staten Island.
Members of the Long Island City-based company Michael C. Fina, which has a retail jewelry and giftware business while also working in corporate recognition, will be participating in this year’s Queens Light the Night Walk. Mark Ellis, the company’s CFO, said that they have always had a strong focus on supporting the community. He said that when an employee brought this cause to their attention, it seemed like a great opportunity to not only give back but also for the employees to do something together outside of the office.
“We were really taken by the amazing things that they [The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society] have done and by just what a great organization it is,” Ellis said, adding that Michael C. Fina is very happy to be able to support them.
Ellis also said that, so far, he has gotten a tremendous response from the approximately 350 employees who are based in Queens. The company’s goal is to raise $25,000 for the walk.
“It’s a lofty goal, but the company has committed to match the contributions of the employees and the individuals they get to sponsor them,” Ellis said.
Overall, Osso said that the society hopes to raise around $200,000 again this year at Light the Night in Queens, while also increasing people’s knowledge of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He said that the walk in Queens is particularly special to the society, in part because of how diverse the borough is and how those different cultures come together for the walk.
“Light the Night Walks are an evening to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma,” Osso said.
Check-in for the Light the Night Walk in Forest Park on October 13 will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the walk itself starting at 7 p.m. For more information or to register, visit www.lightthenight.org/nyc or call 212-532-5054. People interested in volunteering the night of the walk can also call 212-532-5054.
For more information on The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit www.lls.org/nyc.