The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada hosts 10th annual Light The Night Walk in Edmonton
EDMONTON, Sept. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - On Saturday, September 24, two thousand participants will gather at William Hawrelak Park to take part in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's 10th annual Light The Night Walk in Edmonton. At twilight, participants will walk in solidarity along a designated 2.5 or 4 Km route to bring help and hope to the more than 100,000 Canadians affected by a blood cancer.
Canadians like Edmonton resident, Tammy McLash, will be among those in attendance. In August of 2014, the mother of then 2 year-old twins was told she had an aggressive form of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She would spend a total of 9 months away from her family alternating her time between Edmonton and Calgary to receive chemotherapy, radiation and finally a stem cell transplant before she was reunited with them for good.
"Right from the start of my diagnosis, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a strong support system led by my husband and our family and friends," explains McLash, who is captain of her Light The Night Walk team called Team Tammy. "But the most surprising thing for me was the support I got from casual acquaintances and complete strangers."
Light The Night Walks is an opportunity for groups of friends, families and colleagues to form teams to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada in honour of loved ones affected by the disease and in memory of those who've lost their lives.
In 2015, over 35,000 Canadians raised $5.4 million to help fund world-class researchers working on the most promising projects in Canada to improve treatments or find cures for the various forms of blood cancers. In addition, monies raised make it possible to provide free information and support services to blood cancer patients and their caregivers.
At the Light The Night Walk in Edmonton, members of Team Tammy will join two thousand others to walk along the designated route while holding illuminated lanterns at sundown. The event is family-friendly and includes free entertainment including activities for kids and live music performed by The Derina Harvey Band. SpiderMable will also be attending the Light the Night walk in Edmonton!
To start a team or to learn more, please call 780-399-8010 or visit www.lightthenight.ca.
About Light The Night Walk
Each year, in communities across Canada, teams of families, friends, and co-workers walk into the night holding illuminated lanterns to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada at the Light The Night Walks. Together, they bring help and hope to people affected by blood cancers and their families. The Walks are an inspirational and memorable evening event that takes place 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 is the single largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancers in the country. LLSC funds lifesaving blood cancer research across Canada, and provides free information and support services. Our mission is to 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
Follow the hash tag for updates: #LightTheNight #SomedayisToday
Light The Night Walk fact sheet
SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
Katie Suvanto, 780-399-8010, [email protected]
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