Light The Night to help end blood cancers

-- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada lights up the country with online map --

CALGARY, Feb. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Starting on World Cancer Day, Feb. 4, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada invites all Canadians to post a light on its virtual map to join the fight against blood cancers. The campaign kicks off registration for our annual Light The Night Walks.

"We want to show the more than 110,000 Canadians affected by blood cancers that they have the support of the entire country," says Matthew Hanrahan, Prairies Regional Director at Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. "By simply posting a light on our virtual map at LightTheNight4BloodCancer.ca, we will see the support of people from coast to coast."

Once a light is added to our virtual map, Canadians can activate our light app on their mobile phones.  With a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, a person's light on the virtual map will shine even brighter.

Approximately every 25 minutes, a Canadian receives a blood cancer diagnosis, making the disease the fourth-most frequent cancer diagnosis in this country. New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma accounted for 10 percent of the estimated 191,300 new cancer cases diagnosed in Canada in 2014. Leukemia also accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer cases in children less than 14 years.

"What I did not expect was the emotional toll that cancer had on me. It was an incredibly difficult time for me and my family," says Matthew Miller, Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor of Calgary. "Going to the Light The Night Walk was truly remarkable. The physical reminder that there are thousands of people supporting not only me, but the entire community was inspirational, and helped to remind me that I was never alone, even when I felt entirely isolated."

In addition to lighting the night on our virtual map, Canadians can take part in various planned blood cancer awareness events taking place in regions throughout the country on World Cancer Day. Altogether, these activities culminate to officially kick off registration for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's annual Light The Night Walks. Every fall, tens of thousands of Canadians come together in communities across the country to walk and raise money for blood cancer research.

"These inspirational evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers, as well as their families and survivors," adds Hanrahan.

During these walks, red lanterns are carried by supporters, white lanterns by patients and survivors, and gold lanterns by family and friends in memory of a loved one lost.

Canadians can participate in this year's Light the Night Walk by visiting LightTheNight.ca to learn more and register.

About Light The Night Walk
Each year, in communities across Canada, teams of families, friends, and co-workers come together to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's Light The Night Walks and bring help and hope to people affected by blood cancers, their families, and survivors. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America each fall. There are 11 official Canadian Light The Night Walks and dozens of volunteer-hosted community and school walks, across the country. Visit LightTheNight.ca to learn more.

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) is a voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLSC funds lifesaving blood cancer research across Canada, and provides free information and support services. The LLSC mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

National Office Location:
804-2 Lansing Square
Toronto, ON M2J 4P8
Charitable Registration#: 10762 3654 RR0001

Prairies Region & Territories, Calgary Office:
1212 31^st Avenue NE, Suite 316
Calgary, AB T2E 7S8

Follow the hash tag for updates: #LightTheNight

LLSC Fast Facts
Light The Night Walks fact sheet

Aussi disponible en français

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

To arrange an interview or for more information please contact: Shelley Pringle, [email protected], [phone]; Ariane Tremblay, [email protected], [phone] ext. 4957