The 2013 annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Miami Walk, which raises funds for blood cancer research and provide support to patients and their families, took place Saturday, Nov. 16, at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The event organized by the Southern Florida and Puerto Rico Chapter, raised approximately $800,000.
More than 6,000 walkers and 50 corporate and family teams and sponsors participated in this year’s Miami Light The Night Walk. Before the walk, LLS Board of Trustees chair Lisa Geata welcomed the walkers, and Miami Light the Night chair Ralph Lawson, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Baptist Health South Florida, congratulated everyone on a successful fundraising season. LLS national CEO/president John Walter and local politicians also spoke, and a Remembrance Ceremony took place with candles lit in memory of loves ones lost to cancer.
Later, through the leisurely one-mile walk, participants carried illuminated balloons — white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones. Thousands of walkers — men, women and children — formed a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.
Each year, in communities all across the U.S. and Canada, teams of families, friends, co-workers and local and national corporations come together to raise funds and bring help and hope to people battling blood cancer. Millions of consumers also help by donating at retail outlets.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has invested more than $875 million in research targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. LLS has 59 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
To reach the Southern Florida and Puerto Rico Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, call 1-954-744-5300 or visit www.lls.org/sfl.
