Rye Brook, NY (November 08, 2016) – This fall, communities across the country have been gathering for nearly 175 evening walks as part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night® Walk (www.LightTheNight.org). Light The Night Walks raise awareness and funds for blood cancer research and patient support services. The evening walks honor survivors, supporters and loved ones lost to blood cancer, while families, co-workers and community members, along with national partners and corporate teams, raise funds and take steps to help save lives.
These corporate teams and national partners comprise tens of thousands of teams representing 12,000 companies and organizations across the country; these dedicated corporate teams and partners across North America raised nearly $62 million in 2015 during the five-month-long Light The Night Walk season. A significant portion of those donations were raised by the LLS’s top 25 corporate partners and teams – from retailers, to financial companies to manufacturers to restaurant chains – all of which inspired employees and their friends and families, to form teams and raise funds, and to be part of a movement that is helping make someday, today, for blood cancer patients.
According to Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., LLS President and Chief Executive Officer, “LLS’s National Corporate Partner Team Program, which includes iconic companies and brands used by consumers every day, are helping LLS accelerate cures and bring us closer to a world without blood cancers. Many of these companies are retailers, which activate extensive fundraising campaigns providing an opportunity for their customers to donate when they make purchases. We are so grateful for the commitment and creativity shown by our many corporate partners; we expect their efforts to raise nearly $17 million this year to further the mission of LLS, to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.”
These fundraising efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks where participants carry illuminated lanterns – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer. Anyone big, small, young or old can shine a light on the importance of finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients.
In 2015, the Light The Night Top 25 National Corporate Partner Teams raised nearly $13 million. “We are so grateful to all of our participants and our national corporate partner teams, who are lending their support to this year’s Light The Night Walks,” said DeGennaro.
For the 15th consecutive year, the national off-price retailer, Burlington Stores, is the #1 National Corporate Partner and Honored Friend of the Light The Night Walk campaign, and is the 2016 Top Fundraising National Corporate Partner Team. Now through November 30, 2016, all 570 Burlington stores nationwide are asking their generous customers to help fund innovative cancer research and patient services at checkout by donating a $1 or more. Since the partnership commenced in 2001, Burlington has raised more than $25 million to help fight blood cancers and thousands of Burlington associates have participated in Light The Night Walks all across the country. To contribute to the cause at any Burlington location, visit www.BurlingtonStores.com.
LLS thanks all its 2015 Top 25 National Corporate Partner Teams, including: Burlington; Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network; Barclays; Celgene Corporation; Salesforce; PVH; Stater Bros. Charities; SanDisk; Global Franchise Group (Great American Cookies®, Marble Slab Creamery®, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery®, Pretzelmaker® and Hot Dog on a Stick®); Walgreens; TEVA; Perfumania; Wells Fargo; Carter’s/OshKosh B'Gosh; Takeda Oncology; BMC; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Discount Tire Company; Elbit Systems of America; PwC; EY; ALEX AND ANI ®; Amgen; United Food and Commercial Workers Union/UFCW; BDO.
Additional 2016 Top Supporters in the United States are our Leading Light Sponsors: PVH and Wawa; Luminary Sponsors: Amgen; Barclays; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Carter’s/OshKosh B'Gosh; Celgene Corporation ; Elbit Systems of America; FIS; Genentech/Biogen Idec; Gilead; Global Franchise Group (Great American Cookies® | Hot Dog on a Stick® | MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery® | Marble Slab Creamery® | Pretzelmaker®); Pharmacyclics/Janssen; Pfizer Oncology; Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network; Stater Bros. Charities; Takeda Oncology and TEVA.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: 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, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
About Light The Night
Light The Night Walks are a powerful and unique fundraising campaign of LLS, which bring together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases, and shine a light on the importance of finding cures and providing access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Friends, family, children of all ages, and co-workers all have the power to save lives. Since it began in 1999, this national program of almost 175 walks across North America each fall has helped LLS invest more than $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough cancer treatments that are saving lives today.
For more information about dates, locations and times, contact your local LLS chapter, call 877.LTN.WALK or visit www.LightTheNight.org.
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