The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada celebrates an evening of solidarity at The Light The Night Walk in Montreal

MONTREAL, Oct. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's (LLSC) Montreal Region will celebrate its 10th annual Light The Night® Walk on Saturday October 17 at Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal at 5:00 pm.

The special stars of this year's Montreal walk are Danielle Hugo, Jenifer Badea, and Philip Massimo.

Danielle Hugo was diagnosed with a follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008. Danielle received multiple treatments over the course of 6 years and then finally, a stem-cell transplant. She is a true fighter and a testament of determination.

Jenifer Badea was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphomic Leukemia) at the age of 14 in 2009. After two relapses from ALL and AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), Jenifer received a transplant from an umbilical cord in the summer of 2015. She is now feeling great and is excited to be at the Light the Night walk.

Philip Massimo was diagnosed with ALL in May 2013. After a year of treatment, he entered the maintenance phase and was able to go home and start high school. "The journey is long," said Massimo. "It changes the life of individuals affected with cancer and those close to them. But if it wasn't for all the research and support from all (family, friends and strangers), we would not be here today."

This year, as Honoured Heroes, Danielle, Jenifer and Philip will provide inspiration and support to Light The Night participants, volunteers and staff. They will be joined by 6000 participants as they carry illuminated lanterns – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Anyone big, small, young or old can shine a light on the importance of finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients.

Light The Night is LLSC's annual walk and fundraising event, and the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Friends, families and co-workers form fundraising teams and raise funds to support the LLSC mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma; and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America each fall.

LLSC and its US affiliate, LLS, are the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancers. Through its efforts it has invested more than $1 billion in cutting-edge research to advance therapies. Thanks to research, survival rates for patients with many blood cancers have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled since the early 1960s.

To form a team or to learn more, please call the Montreal Office at 514-875-1000 or visit www.lightthenight.ca .

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, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLSCanada.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at [phone], Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

Montreal Chapter
1255 Robert-Bourassa, suite 705
Montreal, Quebec
Canada, H3B 3W1

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

Cristina Cinquanta, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, 514-875-1000 ext. 1006, [email protected]