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Light the Night Walk set for September

3 min read

September marks the annual observance of Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month, a time to commemorate the estimated 785,829 patients in the U.S. currently battling blood cancers. It also is the month that officially kicks off the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk to honor lives touched by blood cancer and to raise money for research and patient services.

Locally, the event will be held at Uniontown High School Stadium on Sept 23. The honorary chairman for the event is state Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar). At Light the Night walks, teams of co-workers, families and friends walk together in twilight holding illuminated balloons white for survivors and red for supporters.

“It is so important to educate the general public about these diseases and invite them to participate in our events, because it allows us to fund leading-edge research and provide much-needed patient services,” said George Omiros, executive director of the Western Pa./W.Va. Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“Participating in Light the Night is a great way to help build awareness and advance the Society’s mission to cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life for patients and their families,’ added Omiros, a Uniontown resident. “Every five minutes, somebody is diagnosed with blood cancer, and every 10 minutes, someone dies. Each year, the funds raised through our Light the Night campaign, as well as our other programs and activities, help bring us closer to our goal of conquering these diseases.”

Omiros noted that throughout the year, the society’s 66 chapters in the United States and Canada provide free information, education and support services to patients, their families, caregivers and healthcare providers.

“We encourage everyone touched by blood cancer to turn to us as a resource,” said Omiros.

CBS TV’s “Without a Trace” star Anthony LePaglia is helping build awareness of the society’s work through his appearance on a poster with 16-year-old Shayna Bordy, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient.

Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y, the society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Since its inception in 1949, the society has invested more than $483 million in research specially targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org

or call the society’s Information Resource Center, a call center staffed by master’s level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at 800-955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Anyone also may call the Western Pa./W.Va. Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at 412-395-2873 or visit online at www.lightthenight.org

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