Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Light the Night Walk

One of my best friends, Carolina, whom I met my freshman year of college, has been through a lot. In her junior year of high school, Carolina lost her father to a long battle of leukemia. While I was worrying about the college application process, prom and other mundane things in high school, Carolina was moving schools to be able to be closer to her hospitalized father, helping take care of her little brother during a tough transition and dealing with a loss of a very special person in her life. Carolina and her family's world was turned up-slide down by leukemia. Even though I never met her father, from the stories and pictures, I know he was a great man who loved and cared for his family more than anything in the world.

In memory of Robert Ciccia (Carolina's father), Carolina, Carolina's brother, a few friends and myself participated in the Light the Night Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at Boston Common last year. For the 2009 walk, we were able to raise close to $800 dollars in support of the foundation, which is dedicated to funding blood cancer research and improving the lives of patients and their families who are affected by blood cancer. The event was a lot of fun. We had a banner with our team name, we received t-shirts, a balloon with a glow stick insert and free food. It was cold, but we were warmed knowing we were helping families whose lives had been touched by leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. We knew walking Light The Night walk wouldn't bring Robert back, but we knew by raising funds and walking in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we were helping support families, cancer research and towards the development of a cure.

Next week, Carolina, Carolina's brother and I, along with a few friends, will be participating in the Light the Night Walk again. This year we have already raised over $2,000. Most of our fundraising stemmed from Robert and Carolina hosting a social event and her little brother, Nano, selling teddy bears to his classmates at school. Our goal is to reach $2,500 dollars and we couldn't be more close. I can't wait to be back at Boston Common, walking side by side friends, all coming together for a great cause.

October 14 is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk around Boston Common. I encourage you to register, join an existing team, create your own team, or make a donation in support of all families whose lives have been affected by cancer.

To donate to Team Ciccia, visit Team Ciccia's donation page.

To create your own team or register for Light the Night walk, visit here.

Your support would mean more than you know.


The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Mission Video...

About the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since the first funding in 1954, LLS has awarded more than $680 million in research funding.