Event will ‘Light the Night’ for leukemia, lymphoma awareness

Event will ‘Light the Night’ for leukemia, lymphoma awarenessSeptember 08, 2006Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

To commemorate September as the national month for Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness, the Syracuse branch of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is preparing for its annual fundraising walk, Light the Night, to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Clinton Square.

The two-mile walk through downtown Syracuse begins at 6:30 p.m. and will commemorate and celebrate the lives of those touched by cancer.

“This is another tremendous opportunity for Syracuse University students, staff and faculty to showcase their engagement with the world,” says Mariana Lebron, director of orientation and transitions services and organizer of SU’s participation in the event. “We are looking forward to partnering with the Central New York community and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in this important effort.”

During the walk, friends, family and supporters carry illuminated red balloons, while patients and survivors carry illuminated white balloons to help illustrate their dedication to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. Funds are used for blood cancer research and are also used to help improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Students, faculty and staff may volunteer with a group or individually and are encouraged to sign up at the LTN Table in the Schine Student Center Atrium from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, 11, 15 or 18.

Students can also visit the Office of Orientation and Transitions Services or the Center for Public and Community Service to register, or visit http://orientation.syr.edu/lightthenight/.

A registration fee of $7 will contribute to transportation to Clinton Square, an SU LTN Team T-shirt, pizza given after the walk, water, a group photo and a donation to the society.

Students will be able to travel to Clinton Square via bus. The bus will leave the Schine Student Center at 4:30 p.m.

An SU Team photo will be taken at 5:45 p.m. SU Team prizes will be given out at 5:55 p.m.

Additional forms of support can be given through the purchase of $1 paper balloons, $5 LTN dog tags, a $5 SU team T-shirt or $5 periwinkle pins, which were designed by a local blood cancer survivor.