Search Results
Riley
On October 17, 2023, my life took a turn I never saw coming. My doctor sat me down and told me, "You have leukemia." It felt like the ground had shifted beneath my feet. I was scared, couldn't believe it was happening, and had no idea what the future held.
Heather
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk serves as an inspiring, empowering and comforting event, made possible by those who share, remember, and advocate for the fight against cancer. Each year, we here at LLS are graced with countless stories that demonstrate and display the spirit of this event. Heather Lee’s story is one of them.
Johanna
On April 5, 2019, my life changed forever. What started as a simple ER visit for some light chest pain turned into a two-and-a-half-year battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). During treatment, I had many ups and downs but pushed myself through online courses at my university. One of the many things that brought me joy during this time was how much support I had from friends, family, and even complete strangers. My university held a Light The Night (LTN) event, and it was amazing seeing all the support from my community.
Allie
I received a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) at age 24 right before the pandemic started. I finished chemo in April 2020 and have been cancer-free ever since. I’ve participated in Light The Night (LTN) since 2029 and have raised over $100,000.
Heather
Heather Banks draws her inspiration from her good friend, who has been fighting non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma for the past 10 years and her college best friend who is a survivor. She is motivated by her friends’ strength, determination, and positivity. In times of feeling helpless, she channels that energy and puts it into her sewing machine.
Freia
Freia was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of 8. She and her family had just landed in Denmark for a family vacation when her parents noticed something wasn't right. After several trips to the hospital, they drove to Sweden where Freia’s grandparents live. It was there that her family heard those awful words, “Freia has cancer.”
Addie
Charles Esten, an actor/musician who plays Deacon Claybourne on the TV show “Nashville,” is this year’s Light The Night Walk National Honorary Chair. Esten’s 15-year-old daughter, Addie, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 2 1/2 and, thanks to advances in treatment, is thriving today. Because of their personal connection to blood cancer, Charles, his wife Patty, and the entire Esten clan are strong supporters of LLS.
Kristen
I’d like to share my daughter’s story. Her name is Kristen, and she is 10 years in remission now after being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). December 2024 will be 11 years. We have been attending Light The Night (LTN) for the last eight years and bring friends and family each time. It is a great event that offers support for all patients and family members.
Penny Man (Jonathan)
My name is Jonathan, but I really like to be called "The Penny Man.” I have been collecting pennies for over 15 years and then donating them to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started collecting in high school in 2006 when a classmate of mine passed away from leukemia. My teacher, Mrs. Jean Cassetta, started a schoolwide campaign in partnership with LLS in memory of our friend Andrew, and I never stopped saving pennies since.
The Gift of Time: Giving More Moments to Blood Cancer Patients
As we transition from one year to the next, we often reflect on milestones achieved, challenges faced, and moments shared with those we love. It’s a time to focus on what’s most important—family, community, and how we’ll spend our time going forward. At the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), we know that time is more than just a passing moment for blood cancer patients. It’s the most valuable gift they can receive.
Peyton
My son, Peyton, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in 2021 when he was just eight years old. I nearly dropped to the ground in devastation when I heard the words, "Your child has cancer." As a parent, I wanted to fix it. I wanted to make things better but did not know how. We just knew that we were going to fight and learn as much as we could to beat this.
Saly & Merna
We began volunteering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual Light The Night (LTN) event in high school. Our hearts were touched by the courage and stories of empowerment present at the event, so we came back the following year, and then the year after that, and so on. Even through COVID, we were supporters of the event and the individuals and families there. We volunteer every year and support LLS as we learn more about friends who are wrestling with and have been impacted by leukemia and lymphoma, always praying for healing and restoration.
Trish
I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2001. It had eaten my C7 vertebrae and traveled to my spleen so it was determined that it was stage IV. After having surgery to place a donor bone in my neck, six months of chemo, a stem cell transplant and last but not least 35 rounds of radiation, I am so happy to say that I have been cancer free for 14 years!
I am actively involved with Light The Night walk/fundraising because we have to find a way to eradicate this horrible disease!
Fundraise for LLS
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Make an impact in the fight to cure cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. LLS does more to advance science and support patients than any other cancer organization.
Join the fight against cancer by participating in one of our fundraising events: Light The Night, Team In Training, Big Climb, Visionaries of The Year, Student Visionaries of The Year, Ski, Scenic Shore, USA BMX, and more.
Gary
Gary Streit was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in April. He began chemo therapy right away at Roswell Park. After six rounds of chemotherapy, a great support team of Roswell Doctors and Nurses, and his family and friends, Gary beat cancer.
He continues to fight the affects from chemo but is getting stronger each and every day.
Organizing “Team Gary” for the Light The Night Walk was a small way to say thank you and support future research for this horrible disease.
Gary thanks everyone for their prayers and support. Together we can beat this!
Angelina
In December 2005 while three months pregnant, I heard those words, "you have cancer". I was diagnosed with CML but couldn’t start my treatment of Gleevec until my son was born. Isaiah was born a healthy baby and shortly after, I began my daily chemo pill, Gleevec.
In February 2007, I was considered in remission. My family and I attended our first Light The Night in 2007 and our team has raised over $115,000 since then. I’m living proof that donations to LLS truly are going where they need to.
Joseph
On May 1, 2021, my son Joseph was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and so our journey began. We were blessed with so much love and support throughout his treatment that we decided to raise money for those less fortunate. We joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Light The Night (LNT) and raised over $17,000. We had over 100 family and friends walking with us, and it was an amazing experience that we will continue to do. Joseph and I are so proud to be part of this organization. Written by family member.
Dylan
I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the summer of 2017, right before the start of my junior year in high school. Due to slow immune recovery after chemotherapy, I experienced many delays in treatment. By spring of the following year, I had a CNS and marrow relapse, requiring me to have a life-saving bone marrow transplant in June of 2018. Following the transplant, my body struggled to produce enough T-cells, which put me in medical isolation for the entirety of my senior year in high school.
Amanda
Amanda was a Woman of the Year candidate this past spring, raising over $186,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
She is a multiple myeloma (MM) survivor and just received the newly approved for MM, CAR-T cell treatment, 5 days before the fundraising campaign finale.
LLS first met Amanda when she was pushed through the front doors of the office in her local region, in a wheelchair.
Chase
Meet Chase. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivor. When Chase was just 16 months old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Chase's treatment of chemotherapy lasted for three and a half years. Chase endured spinal taps, bone marrow draws, feeding tube placements, port accesses, blood transfusions, and countless medications - always with a smile. Chase triumphed; he's in remission and doing great. Chase's family is committed to finding a cure. They have participated in Light The Night Walk for the last seven years and raised more than $66,000!
Chris
Chris is a retired Army colonel. He graduated from Temple University and set into life at home with his family when he was diagnosed with a hernia. In the process of preparing for healing, he was told the hernia was no longer his challenge as he had a rare form of leukemia. The battle was on long after the battlefield, and as a chemist, he knew like any soldier does that tomorrow is not promised. But courage, teamwork, a battle plan, family love, and a foundation built on research and millions of man-and-woman-hours showed that the light at the end of the tunnel was a bright shining star.
Ellie
Because she did not have symptoms, Ellie's diagnosis of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) at age four was incredibly shocking. Just one month after diagnosis, she was discharged from the hospital, already in remission. She responded extremely well to chemotherapy and very rarely felt sick. Ellie is now a healthy, very active 11 year old and a competitive gymnast, practicing 20 hours a week. She loves to play softball, hang with her friends, and go to the beach. Ellie is thankful to everyone who participates in the Light The Night Walk and helps kids like her fight cancer.
Christine
My father, Alan Schwall, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at the very start of my sophomore year in college -- in the fall of 2006 when he was only 51 years old. He always had knee issues, but the summer between my freshman and sophomore year at college, he developed a swollen leg/knee and other problems that made it hard for him to walk at times.
Alyssa
In March 2017, after not feeling well for over a year, Alyssa was diagnosed with histiocytosis disease. Even though she wasn’t feeling her best, she graduated that year with National Honor Society honors and received a scholarship from Valparasio University. She was excited to go to college and fulfill her dream of going into the medical field. But her plans changed when she developed a high fever while on family vacation that summer.