DALLAS, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- During September and October, the evening sky across North Texas was magically transformed as thousands of brightly illuminated balloons filled the night in celebration of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's sixth Annual Light The Night Walk. Teams of friends, families and co-workers gathered in cities across North Texas to walk at dusk along a two-mile route carrying illuminated balloons -- white for survivors and red for supporters. Each team carried a personal dedication banner, uniquely decorated to honor the person for whom they were walking.
The North Texas chapter of the Society sponsored a total of seven Light The Night walks in communities across North Texas. Walk sites included SMU in Dallas, the University of North Texas in Denton, Sundance Square in Fort Worth, The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, the University of Texas in Tyler, Heritage Square in Waco and Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
This year, over 750 teams representing more than 7,500 walkers joined together in the fight against blood cancer to raise over $830,000 in support of research and patient programs. "This incredible effort will certainly brighten the future of many lives touched by blood cancer," said Tina May- Garcia, executive director of the North Texas chapter.
Participants in Light The Night primarily consist of corporate and friends and family teams. This year, the top corporate fundraising teams included EFW Inc., a Fort Worth based company that raised over $60,000; Carter Blood Care, raising over $46,000; Comp USA, a national sponsor whose local team raised over $42,000; and Compass Bank, whose employees raised over $44,000.
The top friends and family team this year was "12 South Angels." Two young mothers, Jenny Scott and Dana Eisenberg, met each other on the 12 South oncology ward of Medical City hospital. Jenny's 4-month-old daughter Allie, and Dana's 3-and-a-half-year-old son Sam, were both being treated for acute myelogenous leukemia. Jenny and Dana became instant friends and companions during this incredibly difficult time in their lives. They both felt the need to share their experiences with others and created websites that included a daily journal entry of their life on the 12 South ward. Word spread and soon people from around the world were logging in to share Jenny and Dana's daily experiences. Allie's health was failing rapidly and Sam's was tenuous, having just received a bone marrow transplant. Jenny and Dana decided to form a team and fundraise for the Plano Light The Night Walk. Their "internet" friends and family were quick to respond with overwhelming support. "12 South Angels" raised an astounding $178,000 and had over 450 walkers participating in the Plano Light The Night Walk. Over 135 national "Allie's Angels" teams representing 2,000 walkers participated in Light The Night walks across the country raising over $540,000 in support of this event.
Allie Scott lost her brave battle with leukemia several weeks before the walk. Sam Eisenberg's health improved due to the bone marrow transplant he received from his twin brother. Sam had the honor and privilege of riding in the golf cart that led the walkers along the route of the Plano Light The Night Walk.
The North Texas chapter would like to recognize the incredible support of the following 2004 Light The Night sponsors: EFW, Inc., Carter Blood Care, Compass Bank, Whole Foods, Medical City, PeopleSoft, WFAA-TV, The Dallas Morning News, KSCS 96.3, Radio Disney 620 AM, The Twister 96.7, Geico Direct, Texas Oncology, P.A., EZ's Grill, Twinkle's Circus, Coca Cola, Frisco Medical Center, People Newspapers, FedEx Kinko's, Texas City Sports Magazine, 7-Eleven, Medical Center of Plano, Ft. Worth Weekly, Fort Worth Gazette, Run On!, Cash Rewards, 1-800-GOT-JUNK.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $360 million in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research. Society-funded research has led to key advances in chemotherapy treatment, bone marrow transplantation, and new targeted therapies that kill cancer cells.
For additional information or photos, contact Sarah Bayley at the North Texas chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (972) 354-8306 or visit http://www.lls.org/ntx .
The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyCONTACT: Sarah Bayley of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,+1-972-354-8306
Web site: http://www.lls.org/ntx