Light the Night raises funds to battle blood cancers
Current estimates peg the number of people in the United States afflicted by blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma at 785,829. To raise money to research ways to combat the diseases, find a cure and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has declared this month as Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month. Across the nation, the society is scheduling a series of Light the Night walks to honor lives touched by blood cancer and to raise money for research and patient services.
Locally, a Light the Night event will be held at Uniontown High School Stadium on Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m.
“While walks have been going on nationwide for the past eight years, this is the third year in a row one has been slated for Uniontown,” said Katie Berger, campaign coordinator.
Organizers are expecting that between 350 and 400 people will show up for the approximate mile-long walk around the stadium that will include a short ceremony of the recitation of names of people who died during the past several years as well as the names of survivors.
“The walk is non-competitive, meaning people can walk as much or as little as they want,” said Berger. “The focal point of the event are teams of co-workers, families and friends who will walk together in twilight holding illuminated balloons – white for survivors and red for supporters. Although the event is free of charge, we encourage all the participants to raise or donate at least $25, which will entitle them to carry one of the illuminated balloons during the walk.”
During the walk, organizers will release three balloons – one for those recently diagnosed with blood cancer, another for people currently dealing with the disease, and one for those who have already lost their battle with the disease.
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., along with a pre-walk celebration with foods such as pasta, chips, pizza and beverages, including water, ice tea and juices. Children’s activities will include face painting, games and a Moon Bounce. Those attending also can sign a dedication banner with their own names or for the person they’ll be walking for.
The walk will take place rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, attendees are encouraged to bring along an umbrella. A disc jockey from Kingfish Entertainment in Uniontown will provide the entertainment. The entire event will take place over a 31/2- to 4-hour period.
State Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Dunbar) will serve as honorary chairman of the walk and deliver a talk on the disease and its impact on the family. Kasunic’s wife, Laura, died of leukemia 30 years ago, shortly after the couple was married, leaving behind a young son.
“The loss we experienced showed me how devastating the disease could be to families,” he said. “With these diseases, everything happens so fast there isn’t much you can do except pray and hope for the best.
“For the past 10 or 12 years, I’ve been involved in fund-raising for research of the disease to help families going through the same ordeal I suffered through,” Kasunic added. “Although, in the past 30 years, we’ve learned more and gained some ground in battling the disease. I’m asking all my friends out there to get involved in the fight, either as a volunteer or a donor.”
One of those eager to help is Heather Lucy of Chalk Hill.
A nurse at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., Lucy and her husband, Christopher, have organized a team of about 55 volunteers that includes their families, friends, co-workers and staff from their daughter’s day-care center who will walk in honor of Timothy Aaron Lucy, Christopher Lucy’s brother and former resident of Markleysburg.
“Tim was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2000 after going to his family doctor with a sore throat,” said Heather Lucy. “When tests confirmed his illness, he was referred to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.”
After undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy in the summer and fall of 2000, he was the recipient of a stem cell transplant on Dec. 26, with his brother, Christopher, as the donor. After several relapses, he had a second transplant in June of 2001.
“He seemed to be doing well until April of 2003, when he started having complications due to the bevy of treatments he’d undergone,” said Heather Lucy. “In September 2003, we got a phone call telling us he’d passed away at the age of 25.”
Between treatments, Timothy Lucy married Joni Dennis from Bruceton Mills, W.Va., despite the fact that some thought the couple should wait until things progressed further along. In spite of his illness, the couple decided to wed and made many of their wedding plans while Tim Lucy was in the hospital.
“It’s too late to save our family member, but our hope is that further research can help others and find a cure for these diseases,” said Heather Lucy.
Last year, 38 members of the Lucy team raised a little more than $5,600 by holding bake sales, lottery raffles and taking collections at fairs and festivals. One of their biggest sources of revenue came from selling T-shirts that lists business donors on the back. The front of the shirt reads “In Memory of Timothy Aaron Lucy” and includes the number 40 against a checkered flag in remembrance of the race car he drove at meets in Farmington and Roaring Knob in Markleysburg.
“Last year, I found out about Light the Night from Sarah Marks Forkovitch, whose sister, Jenny Marks Frazee, passed away from leukemia in March of 2004, six months after Timothy,” said Heather Lucy. “Ironically, Christopher, Jenny, Sarah and I all attended A.J. McMullen Middle School and Uniontown High School together.”
“Before the 2005 Light the Night, Sarah called to ask whether I wanted to join her team or start one of my own,” said Heather Lucy. “I decided to start one of my own in memory of Tim and thought I’d get maybe 10 or so members. I actually ended up with 38.”
Like Sarah Marks Forkovitch, Heather and Christopher Lucy have been working diligently on fund-raising for research for a cure ever since their loved ones passed away.
“Last year, our goal was to raise $20,000 in Fayette County, but we actually more than doubled that amount by raising $45,000,” said Berger.
“This year, we’d like to raise $52,000 through sponsorships, teams and individual contributions.”
To raise money, organizers will sell luminarias for $10, which will be lit during the walk in memory of the person being honored.
Prior to the Light the Night event, donations were accepted at PNC Bank on Main Street in Uniontown. With a prior appointment (call 1-800-726-2873, ext. 2886), donations also will be accepted from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Day Automotive on Route 51 in Uniontown.
Those raising at least $100 will receive a royal blue, long-sleeve T-shirt with the Light Up The Night logo on front as well as a voucher for an illuminated balloon. Those raising $150 or more will receive a navy blue sweatshirt with the same logo, a T-shirt and a balloon voucher.
“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 Pennsylvania/West Virginia 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.”
The Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter extends from Erie to Uniontown and east to State College and includes seven northern counties of West Virginia. Last year, the chapter raised more than $600,000 during all six of its walks.
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.
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 health-care providers.
“We encourage everyone touched by blood cancer to turn to us as a resource,” said Omiros.
For those wanting to make a donation to the society but are unable to attend the Light the Night event, checks can be mailed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 333 E. Carson St., Suite 441, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219. For more information on the Uniontown Light the Night event, call 1-800-726-2873 or visit online at www.lightthenight.org.