The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk Chester County!

Taking Steps to Find a Cure!

Family, Friends, and Corporate Teams Honors Those Touched by Blood Cancer at

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk

            Conshohocken, PA (September 9, 2013) – Over 2,000 people from Chester County will turn out for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s ® (LLS) Light The Night Walk ® (LTN) on Saturday, September 28th at Oakbourne Park in Westtown. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and the Walk will start approximately at 6:30 p.m.

            The Walk is an evening filled with inspiration. During the 2 miles leisurely walk, participants will carry illuminated balloons. Survivors will carry white balloons; red by supporters and gold in memory of loved ones who lost their lives to cancer. Thousands of walkers will form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.

            Erin Berrios of Coatesville will be walking as a survivor with her family and friends for their 3rd consecutive year as a team. Berrios was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma on July 1, 2011 at the age of 32, three months shy of her oldest daughter’s third birthday. Berrios underwent a bone marrow transplant on February 16, 2012, a day she now refers to as her “new birthday.”

            “Through my experience I have learned that when life throws you curve balls, you have to take it day by day, sometimes hour by hour,” said Berrios. “You have to appreciate the little things. You have to let people know you love them and how much they are appreciated. You have to live in the moment.”

            This past February marked one year post-transplant for Berrios. A bone marrow

 test and PET scan showed no signs of cancer, no markers, no disease and 100% donor cells. Berrios is now remission and leading a healthy life style.

There is no fundraising minimum to participate in the Walk, but every walker is encouraged to become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help fight blood cancer. Funds raised by teams and individual walkers will provide lifesaving blood cancer research; free educational materials and events for patients and their families; local programs, such as Family Support Groups and First Connection, a peer-to-peer counseling program; and comprehensive, personalized assistance though.  

“Light The Night Walk gives hope to patients and their families and lets them know that they are not alone in their battle against cancer,” said Maida R. Milone, the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. “It is a night to pay tribute to lives touched by cancer, honor those we have lost, and celebrate the lives that have been saved.”

Corporate Sponsors of the Chester County LTN Walk are FMC Corporation, Independence Blue Cross, HEADStrong Foundation, UFCW Local 1776, Trion Group, Genesis HealthCare, Lasko Products, Cancer Treatment Centers of America ®, Marsh & McLennan Agency, and Aqua America, Inc. Media Sponsors include Fox 29, Philadelphia Business Journal and Daily Local News.

The Walk last year raised $234,000 for the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. This year’s goal is $258,000. It is still not too late to register for Light The Night. For more information, please call (800) 482-2873 or visit www.lightthenight.org/epa.  

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and 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 chapters throughout the United States and Canada including the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.