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Light the Night walk fights blood cancers

Hundreds of friends and families joined together to bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers during The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk event on Saturday, October 16 at Forest Park’s Victory Field.
“It was great to see over 1500 people from the Queens community come together for one night to help create one world without cancer,” said Lisa Schwerdt, Campaign Manager for Queen’s Light The Night Walk.
Funds raised by teams and individual walkers help provide lifesaving blood cancer research, free educational materials and events for patients and their families, local programs such as Family Support Groups and First Connection, a peer-to-peer counseling program and personalized assistance through LLS’s Information Resource Center.
“I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2001 and my friends and family were very supportive during a very hard time,” said Ruth Spector who was walking with her husband and three children. “We really try to educate everyone about how important it is to support research and groups that do great things for patients and their families.”
During the walk, illuminated balloons, Light the Night T-shirts and wrist bands entitling walkers to enjoy food and refreshments were provided to all those who raised $100 or more to help fight blood cancer.
“I believe in a cure and I am walking for all the children and victims of cancer,” said Sonia Ramirez who walked with Team Cori. “I will not stop doing this, I will do it every year to make a difference and find that cure.”
The Light the Night Walk event was an evenings filled with inspiration, courage and hope. During this emotional walk, walkers carried illuminated balloons – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Thousands of walkers including men, women and children united to bring light to the dark world of cancer.
“We are walking in honor and memory of everyone who has lost their life and those struggling through the fight,” said Tina Marfe, member of Team Believe. “As a group we can change the world.”