Friends, families and co-workers will gather over three Saturday nights in October to raise funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The 2013 Light The Night Walks will take place on Oct. 5 at the Reston Town Center, Oct. 12 in Rockville, Md. at the Rockville Town Square, and Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C. at Freedom Plaza.
Walkers raise funds in honor of local Honored Heroes, patients or survivors of blood cancer who provide inspiration and support. The 2013 Honored Heroes include leukemia survivor Aracelis Vicente of Silver Spring; Manassas resident and lymphoma survivor Richard Zavadowski ; leukemia survivor Ava Buhr of Fairfax; Arlington leukemia survivor Moira Hogan; 4-year-old leukemia survivor Logan Taliaferro of Upper Marlboro and leukemia patient Billind Taib of Centreville.
“The Light the Night Walks provide inspiration and hope for our patients and their families, showing them they are not alone in their fight, while remembering those that have lost their battle,” said Beth Gorman, executive director of LLS’s National Capital Area Chapter. “With the support of our walkers, corporate sponsors and media partners we will walk to the end of cancer, and help make someday today.”
Michael Robinson, general manager for Microsoft’s Health & Life Sciences business in the United States, is serving as the executive committee chairperson for the 2013 Light The Night Walks. Microsoft will be sponsoring the Kid Zone where they will share their newest technology. In addition to their involvement with the Leukemia Ball for close to a decade, last year the Microsoft Team raised close to $30,000 for Light The Night and have committed another $75,000 to LLS in 2013.
ClearChannel & WTTG will serve as media partners at this year’s Light The Night Walks. The Northern Virginia walk will be led by WMZQ’s Boxer.
Walkers will enjoy live music, food and beverages, and family activities before and after the three Light The Night Walks. More than 10,000 people are set to take steps for a cure in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, walking with illuminated balloons in support or in memory of blood cancer patients.
For more information on forming a team or volunteering at an event, visit www.lightthenight.org/nca or call 703-399-2941.