They say, “Teamwork makes the dream work” and the 2016 Light The Night Salesforce team’s March to a Million initiative has proved this is true. As LLS’s longtime Light The Night partner, the team of more than 1,880 participants from across the U.S. went above and beyond this year to fight blood cancer. Not only did they meet their $1 million dollar fundraising goal, but Salesforce has generously offered to match it— bringing their total amount raised to more than $2 million for LLS’s goal to create a world without blood cancers!
Local Salesforce Light The Night teams have been taking steps to end cancer at various walk locations throughout the country this fall. They kicked-off their National team walk at The AT&T Park in San Francisco on November 10. Even though they’ve already reached their million dollar fundraising goal, they are still working hard to raise as much as they can until the end of the calendar year.
As part of their powerful fundraising campaign, Salesforce created a video which features three members of their team who have been deeply impacted by cancer.
John, AML survivor
John remembers November 5, 2010 very clearly, it was the day his doctor told him he had one of the most deadly forms of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). He was immediately sent to the hospital to begin treatment. Unknown to John and his wife, he would remain in the hospital for the following two months— literally fighting for his life. His two young boys were in diapers at the time, so his wife had to manage all of their needs, on top of being John’s primary caregiver
Today, thanks to LLS-funded research, John can proudly say he is a cancer survivor. John is now a Team Captain for the Salesforce international Light The Night team and uses his role to help other patients and drive support until a cure is found.
Ali, breast cancer survivor
On March 6, 2015, Ali was newly married and happily planning her future when she received news that would change her life forever—she had breast cancer. She had no family history of cancer and the diagnosis came as a complete shock.
Today, Ali is cancer free, but wants to spare others from experiencing a cancer diagnosis. She has been with Salesforce since 2011 and proudly holds her white lantern high to celebrate her survivorship. She knows that LLS invests in lifesaving research that impacts not only blood cancer, but other cancers and chronic diseases as well.
Nicole, account executive
Nicole’s Aunt Bridgette who she called “Aunt BG” was more of a friend than an aunt to Nicole, and she looked forward to sharing her biggest life moments with her, but then the unthinkable happened. Aunt BG was diagnosed with leukemia at 21-years-old, and lost her life to this disease. This left Nicole and her family shaken and changed forever.
Nicole has been a member of the Salesforce family since 2015, and by participating in the Light The Night campaign she has found a way to bring light to the darkness of losing her beloved aunt. Nicole reminds us that every donation, big or small, helps bring us closer to a world without blood cancers. She is very proud to be a part of the Salesforce March to a Million effort.
Help bring light to the darkness of cancer, and donate to Salesforce’s Light The Night team here.
2016 Salesforce National Light The Night Team at AT&T Park, San Francisco