Light The Night Virginia

2012 Light The Night Spokesperson

2012-02-02T11:36:00.000-05:00

We are very excited to announce the 2012 LTN spokesperson -　actress and singer-songwriter　Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly fame.　

Cosgrove's career began at the age of three when she appeared in television commercials. Her film debut was in 2003, as Summer Hathaway in School of Rock. Cosgrove appeared in a number of minor television roles over several years before coming to prominence on the Nickelodeon TV series Drake & Josh. A few years later in 2007, Cosgrove landed the role of Carly, the lead character in the Nickelodeon TV series iCarly.

Cosgrove is the second-highest-paid child star on television. She has starred in films like Yours, Mine and Ours, the Wild Stallion and Despicable Me. In 2011, she released her first album titled High Maintenance.

Cosgrove has a huge fan base of over 1,431,000 followers on Twitter and 4,000,000 on Facebook!

Celebrity Tribute #2

2011-08-03T13:05:00.001-04:00

NAME: Paul Garnder Allen

LIFE: 1/21/1953- present
DIAGNOSIS: Hodgkin's Disease, non- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
CLAIM TO FAME: Co-founder of Microsoft

Paul Allen is the billionaire technologist and philanthropist who started Microsoft with Bill Gates. He is founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., the company that oversees his business and philanthropic activities.
After becoming seriously ill with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1982, Allen began scaling back his involvement with Microsoft. He recovered and started using his fortune—and his ideas—for a life of adventure and discovery, from the first privately funded spacecraft (SpaceShipOne) to a landmark breakthrough in neuroscience (the Allen Brain Atlas).

More recently, after fighting back another bout with lymphoma, this time non-Hodgkin's, Allen decided it was time to write his memoirs.

Idea Man is an astonishing true story of ideas made real.

A note from the CEO

2011-07-28T09:50:00.003-04:00

Dear Friend of LLS,

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has a new logo! And with the help of Lands' End, LLS's newest partner, you can wear it proudly. Lands' End and LLS offer you the opportunity to conveniently purchase Lands' End items from the LLS e-Store.

And what's even more wonderful, every time you purchase, 20% of the total comes back to LLS for researching cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers helping patients live better, longer lives.

You can purchase Lands' End clothes for men, women and children, gear and even promotional items. Lands' End has all the seasons covered tempting you with every reason to shop to your heart's content. And you can have the LLS logo or one of our signature campaign logos put directly on your apparel.

Thank you for taking the time to shop and support LLS. Please visit the LLS e-Store today and tell your friends about this terrific opportunity.

Wishing you good health,

John E. Walter

President & CEO

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. See how your donations are invested wisely.

Excerpt from a Patient Services Book

2011-07-05T12:08:00.001-04:00

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Patient Services has a library of books that patients and their families can read. The excerpt below is from Grace; A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery. This is a memior of Melinda Marchiano's stuggle with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

This particular portion of the book describes her thoughts and feelings as she finds what is causing her body constant weakness, pain and discomfort.

Why are doctor's office clocks so loud? They seem to "death tick," each second a loud clunk makes your heart leap. The room was icy cold, and I has goosebumps, accompanied by the chills. I examined the little, clear jar of cotton balls for a few minutes, and then I heard the door opening. Every hair on my body stood on end. I had a weird tickle in my stomach that I blamed on breakfast.

...

A mass sat in my chest cavity with major arteries running all through it at all angles.

What?! I have never even heard of a chest cavity. How did it get there? Mom and I glance at one another... I couldn't keep it together any longer. I broke down. Like a scared little puppy, I blubbered, the room blurring behind by curtain of tears. Immediately, in a flash, both Dr. Gonzalez and Mom were by my side, hugging me.

...

Feeling numb and like I was floating, I suddenly became aware of my chest. Just knowing that some alien thing was present, had invaded me, made my chest hurt. Shortness of breath over came me. Something cheated me out of normal health, and I felt complete lack of control. What would happen now?

The Author Melinda Marchiano

Celebrity Tribute #1

2011-06-21T10:00:00.003-04:00

NAME: Ed Bradley

LIFE: 6/22/1941- 11/09/2006

DIAGNOSIS: Chronic Lymphocystic Leukemia

CLAIM To FAME: CBS anchor on 60 Minutes

Today's Celebrity Tribute is Edward Randolph Bradley. This American journalist graced CBS with his presence for 35 of the 39 years of his career. He started out on the CBS Evening News, he then ventured into the world of documentaries, and lastly attributed 25 successful years with the CBS segment 60 Minutes. His journalistic ability has earned him 20 Emmies. Bradley was seen as a role model, entering the national television platform as one of the first black journalists to do so.

He died from complications with Chronic Lymphocystic Leukemia (CLL). This is a cancer of the lymphocytes, a type o white blood cell. symptoms usually develop slowly over time, which may have been the reason that many of his friends and colleagues had no idea of his battle.

The Celebrity Tribute spotlights those individuals who have not and will not allow their blood cancer defeat their character. This is just a reminder that anything is possible, no matter the circumstance. It is also a beacon for us to help patients and future patients across all walks of life.

If you have any celebrity tributes, or a tribute to someone you know with a blood cancer please let us know. Everyone has a story to be heard in the fight against blood cancer.

New Light The Night Video

2011-06-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

Were you able to catch Michael C Hall last week on 60 seconds? If not, check out this great promotional video he made for Light The Night!!

Sample Email Letter

2011-06-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

Fundraising doesn't have to be a daunting task. There is a way to encourage your family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances while sitting at your computer desk. Send everyone you know an email letter.

We will make it even easier for you. Here is a sample email letter.

Dear Friends and Family,

It is with great excitement that I am writing you today. Some of you know about my current endeavor and have already decided to lend me a hand, and some are learning about this for the first time. To each of you, thank you for taking a couple of minutes to read my email, find out more, and help.

I am a part of the Team name, a group of people who have joined efforts to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk. My team and I are contributing to the fight against blood cancer. On Walk date we will be participating in a Light The Night walk at walk site. our goal is to raise $xxxxx for the walk. Check out our team page to read our story Insert team web page.

It is an honor to a part of this team, but an even larger honor to be able to walk for the many patients, survivors and their families. (YOU CAN INCLUDE A PERSONAL DEDICATION STORY)My personal goal is to raise $XXXX. I have $XXXX left to go. I am willing to work hard to reach this goal but I need your help.

I hope you will strongly consider supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and my team by making a tax- deductible contribution. With you generous support of $XX or more you can help researchers find treatments and ultimately a cure as well as provide excellent patient services. Your donation will help.

Please visit enter your fundraising web page to donate online. If you prefer, you may also mail a check payable to LLS with my name in the memo line to:

Your name
Your Address
Your city and zip

Thank you. With your help we can give hope to patients and their families.

Sincerely,
your name

P.S. here is a link to the Light The Night information video, just in case you wish to join our team, start your own team, or walk individually.
http://www.youtube/ljBvmclmPok

Host a Mocktail Tasting

2011-06-07T12:16:00.008-04:00

June is more than a month for Graduates. This year, Father's Day and the official start of summer happen to fall on the same day. Why not use these celebrations to raise money? Add a mocktail tasting to one of your celebratory event.

Mocktail: a nonalcoholic cocktail

What you will need:
mocktail recipes
cocktail glass
umbrella stirrers
crazy straws
blender
shaker

How to start:
1. decide with what event you want to include a mocktail tasting
2. Tell your guests to bring some extra cash
3. go to the local party store and purchase the cups, straws, umbrellas (dollar stores provide these items for less)
4. test out different mocktail recipes, create a menu, name the drinks for the occasion or blood cancers
5. create a sign, be sure to include something about Light The Night and the LLS mission, you can also make little flyers or tags in front of the drinks.
6. 30 mins before prepare different mocktail, and set up your bar
7. 5 mins before put the drinks on the bar
8. As soon as the guest arrive advertise your drinks and sell, make sure you have a bartender that can make drinks as the first few disappear.

Here are a few recipes.

No Tequila Sunrise
2 oz orange juice
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz lemon lime soda
1/4 oz grenadine
combine everything but the soda in a half filled shaker with ice. shake. strain into glass and add soda

Fuzzless Navel
3 oz peach nectar
3 oz orange juice
3 oz pineapple juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
dash of grenadine
combine in a half-filled shaker with ice. shake. strain into glass

Coolada
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp lemon juice
cream soda
pour everything except soda into ice- packed shaker. shake. pour into glass and and add soda

Mai Tai
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup sparkling club soda
1 tbsp grenadine
1/4 orange juice
1 tbsp coconut milk
combine everything but orange juice in shaker. shake. pour into glass and add oj

Other recipes can be found online through searches. Get creative. Raise money. Help in the fight against blood cancer.

The Most Common Answer

2011-06-06T14:50:00.001-04:00

The most common answer to the question,"Why did you not donate money to charity?"
is

" I was not asked."
Instead simply asking for money, inform prospective donor of where their money goes. Tell them about the "Power of their Donation":
$7,500- educates 200 doctors on emerging treatments
$3,500- educates 70 nurses on emerging treatments
$1,000- one weeks salary of a medical researcher who may discover key information about treatments and cures
$1,000- makes it possible for patients to have one- on- one conversations with health care specialists
$500- provides blood cancer patients with financial aid to support medical treatment and travel to medical appointments for one year
$500- gives 10 patients the opportunity to logon to a webcast and hear the latest information on treatment for their disease
$200- allows one family to attend a support group program for a year
$150- makes it possible for 5 patients to make a First Time Connection with a trained peer volunteer patient/survivor
$100- grants 3 patients access to an informational teleconference
$100- Helps supply laboratory researchers critical supplies and materials
$75- covers the cost of one tissue typing test that is used to become a bone marrow donor
$50- is the cost of one CT scan
$40- allows one family of a child with cancer to receive comprehensive support and informational packet
$35- provides transportation expenses to a local comprehensive cancer center for treatment
$25- covers the cost of one prescription co-payment

Don't let "I wasn't asked" be an excuse. Encourage others to contribute to the fight against blood cancer.

You can also make up little receipts that remind each donor exactly what they did for research, doctors, patients, and families. For example:

Thank you for your contribution of $100 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You have given 3 patients access to an informational teleconference.

Calling all Business Owners!

2011-05-06T10:05:00.002-04:00

Do you run or own your own business?

Are you looking for extra ways to promote your business to a wide variety of people?

Then The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night team has just the marketing opportunity for you!

We offer incentives to our extraordinary fundraisers throughout the year leading up to the walks in order to maximize the amount of funding for blood cancer research and patient services. Incentives are a great motivator to our teams and it helps build unity among the members.

We are looking for businesses who would like to donate items that we can use for incentives for fundraisers who go above and beyond and top fundraising teams until our Walks in October. If you are interested in donating an item and having us help promote your business through the incentive program, please contact:

Richmond & Fredericksburg:
Melissa Gilmore: Melissa.Gilmore@LLS.org or 804-673-5690

Hampton Roads:
Lauren Cecora: Lauren.Cecora@LLS.org or 757-723-2676 ex 204

*Note* You do not have to be a resident or business owner in Virginia to donate. All donations are tax deductible and we are able to provide our Tax Exempt number upon request. You’re business will be promoted during the time frame of the incentive promotion on our Facebook, Twitter, Email Blasts, Electronic Newsletter and Blog.

Help contribute to finding a cure for blood cancers by giving items to those who make Light The Night possible.

LLS Volunteer Opportunity- Air Show Weekend

2011-04-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

Langley AirPower over Hampton Roads Booth
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED MAY 13-15, 2011

Location: Langley Air Force Base, Hampton Virginia
Time Commitment: Volunteers will be needed to cover 2-3 hour time slots. No more than 2 people for each slot. Volunteers must email Lauren.Cecora@LLS.org to register for a time slot or call 757-723-2676 ex 204.
Purpose: The purpose of this event is to spread awareness of LLS and our campaigns. There will be general LLS materials and campaign specific materials to give away to anyone interested. The approximate attendance for the entire weekend is 23,000 people.

Shifts:
Friday May 13th
5pm-7pm
7pm-9pm

Saturday May 14th
9am-11am
11am-2pm
2pm-5pm

Sunday May 15th
9am-11am
11am-2pm
2pm-5pm

Spread the Word

2011-04-14T14:45:00.003-04:00

Social Networking has taken a dramatic boom over the last 5-6 years. Sources such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Blogs open a range of opportunities to reach out to thousands of people with a single post. When starting off your fundraising with Light The Night, we provide you with a fundraising page and a Team fundraising page (If you register under a team). So why not take your fundraising reach to the next level and create your own Facebook Team Page? Team Bryie, a new team to the Peninsula Walk decided to open her own Team Page on facebook the other day. Team Captain, Amanda, plans to use her facebook page to post updates on their fundraising events, photos, information about Light The Night and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in an attempt to reach as many people as possible. Mr. Stinky's Team, a team in Virginia Beach managed to utilize their facebook team page to help raise over $11,000 in 2010. Because of their efforts of exceeding $10,000, we gave them their own tent at the walk! Talk about using your resources and getting rewarded for going above and beyond! Did you know that just by raising 11 thousand dollars last year, Mr. Stinky's Team was able to provide 11 one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team. That's giving 11 families the peace of mind and comfort with real information. With numbers like that, using every resource possible will help to not only maximize your team potential but also to raise even more money to fund blood cancer research! 2011 could be the year that we can say "We cured blood cancer" Think about that. So why not jump on the bandwagon and utilize this free opportunity to put a face on your team to the virtual world? Communite with your friends and family? Use it as an ongoing "blog" in a sense! The possibilities are endless and with something as simple as a facebook page, you can be spreading awareness of LLS and everything that we do. If you create a facebook page or a blog, share it with your campaign coordinator: Hampton Roads: Lauren at Lauren.Cecora@lls.org Richmond: Melissa at Melissa.Gimore@lls.org We want to support you in any way we can. Even through a facebook "like".

Calling All Golfers!

2011-04-06T10:28:00.003-04:00

Team: Ashton's Army is holding their annual Golf Tournament May 2, 2011! They need about 20 more golfers to have it be a sold out event! If you golf or know anyone who does, pass it on! If you or your 2011 Light The Night team have upcoming events that you would like for the staff of Light The Night to help promote, send us an email and we can post it on our blog and our facebook page:

Richmond Market: Melissa.Gilmore@lls.org Hampton Roads Market: Lauren.Cecora@lls.org

Easter Lillies seem to say Lets Fundraise Today!

2011-04-04T12:17:00.023-04:00

With Easter being in late April, there are a few extra weeks to plan a fast Easter Fundraiser. Here are some quick and easy ideas: Cookie Dough Logs what you will need: cookie dough wax paper tin foil festive ribbon paper with baking instructions written out. The paper can also include a fact about blood cancer or the LLS mission Statement. You can even add the web address to register for the Light The Night walks.

Make a batch of cookie dough. Form the dough into a log. Wrap the log in wax paper then tin foil. Attach the baking instructions and tie the ribbon. Determine a price that will create a profit. Sell your logs to neighbors, co-workers, and people in passing. Say something like, "By purchasing a log you have helped improve the lives of blood cancer patients and their families."Be sure to tell them information about the walks. You could also take orders ahead of time, so you know how much to make. Auction an Easter Basket what you will need: baskets candy toys coloring books gift cards cellophane tissue paper Easter grass ribbon raffle tickets Decide what age group you want to attract ( i.e. adults, school- aged children, teenagers). This will determine what you will put in the basket and the price of the tickets. Advertise your Auction by word of mouth, through facebook, twitter, and blogs. Or you can add it onto an event you have coming up in the nest few weeks. (i.e. church events, dinner parties, and fundraising night, etc) Buy raffle tickets at your local party store. Find bowls or buckets to put the tickets in. Set a price for the raffle tickets and sell them throughout your neighborhood, at work, at church, etc. Make sure you tell the purchaser about your Light The Night goal and the LLS mission. Have he or she write contact information on the ticket they give back to you. place that ticket in the bucket of their choosing. Create the Easter baskets. Pick the winner.

** Tips: Creating multiple Easter baskets will help sales and people are able to drop the tickets into the basket of their choosing.

Say Hello To Our New Spokesperson!

2011-04-04T09:56:00.002-04:00

You may have noticed the sudden outpour of the new spokesman, Michael C. Hall for The Light The Night Campaign. LLS and Light The Night are very excited to have this man on board for the 2011 Walk Season! Read below our press release:

Award-winning actor Michael C. Hall is lending his face and fame to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night® Walk.. Michael C. Hall is an American actor whose television roles include David Fisher on the HBO drama series Six Feet Under and Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series Dexter. In 2009, Hall won a Golden Globe award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in Dexter.

As lead ambassador for the 2011 Light The Night Walk, Hall has filmed a public service announcement campaign titled ‘Walk As if Your Life Depended on It’, produced and directed by filmmaker, Jesse Dylan.

Successfully treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010, Hall shares his personal experience and encourages people to walk in support of this important cancer fundraiser. “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society pours a tremendous amount of money directly into cutting-edge cancer research – research that I’ve certainly benefited from,” says Hall. “It’s an organization that you can be confident is at the forefront of moving things forward."

The PSA will be distributed early this summer. Hall is also pictured on brochures, posters, email blasts and other publicity materials. “We are so grateful for Michael C. Hall’s participation in this year’s Light The Night fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” said Nancy L. Klein, LLS’s chief marketing and revenue officer. “His empowering message inspires us and strengthens our dedication to help patients live longer, better lives.”

Come Support LLS at Your Local IHOP

2011-02-24T12:51:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Join us at your local IHOP for a free shortstack of buttermilk pancakes*!
* Dine-in only. Not valid w/ any other discounts/offers. Limit one per customer.

In lieu of paying for your delicious IHOP pancakes on this special day, please consider making a donation to
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support the fight against blood cancers.

Volunteers Needed- IHOP National Pancake Day

2011-01-31T09:04:00.003-05:00

IHOP NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

For nearly a decade, IHOP has been a top supporter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Last year we raised $76,000 through the support of over 75 stores in Virginia, DC, & MD, an 80% increase from the previous year. IHOP is so confident in LLS’ work to find a cure that a goal of $100,000 has been set for this year. And we need volunteers like you to reach this goal!
Tuesday, March 1st is National Pancake Day at IHOP! On this day, IHOP restaurants across the country give out free stacks of pancakes and ask customers to make donations to charity in lieu of payment. LLS is the designated charity beneficiary in several areas throughout VA but we need volunteers to be at each location to collect donations on behalf of LLS!

If you are interested in participating as a volunteer at National Pancake Day on March 1st, please view the below list of stores. We will need volunteers to cover shifts throughout the day from 7am to 10pm. If you are interested, you must commit to manning a store for at least four hours; however, you can volunteer for longer. Any money raised during that time will be collected and sent to LLS and then credited to your fundraising account. Last year, LLS raised on average $1200-$2500 at each store throughout the day.

Shifts will be assigned on a first come – first served basis. So, please contact me ASAP if you are interested.

Northern VA
Store # City Address State Zip
3189 CULPEPER 15271 Creativity Drive VA 22701-2504
3289 DUMFRIES 3914 Fettler Park Drive VA 22025-1997
4508 WARRENTON 6445 Lee Hwy VA 20187-7903

Hampton Roads
575 CHESAPEAKE 2501 Taylor Road VA 23321-2203
2062 ELIZABETH CITY 1700 City Center Blvd. NC 27909-8952
520 HAMPTON 1002 W. Mercury Blvd VA 23666-3405
487 NEWPORT NEWS 11745 Jefferson Avenue VA 23606-4410
577 NORFOLK 114 E. 21st Street VA 23517-2315
598 NORFOLK 1295 N. Military Hwy VA 23502-2228
5606 NORFOLK Dept. of the Navy, Mid Atlantic Navy Exchange VA 23511-3898
2042 PORTSMOUTH 1001 Frederick Blvd. VA 23707-4109
591 SUFFOLK 1210 N. Main Street VA 23434-4321
475 VIRGINIA BEACH 1316 Fordham Drive VA 23464-5334
458 VIRGINIA BEACH 4452 Virginia Beach Blvd VA 23462-3107

Please contact Lauren.Cecora@LLS.org to sign up for shifts, they are going quick but we still need assistance!

Top Fundraisers for 2010

2011-01-05T11:04:00.002-05:00

Every year, Light the Night takes time to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in their Light the Night walk. This year there will be two award ceremonies: One in Richmond and one in Norfolk honoring these individuals. Thank you for all that you do for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! You all are true lights to our cause!

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale

Congratulations to our Winner's Circle Club Members:
(Raising over $10,000!)
Christina Verbanic
Tomas Nichols

Congratulations to our Shining Stars Club Members:
(Raising over $5,000!)
Devonee Shearer
Michael Ricks
Beverly Szczur Straightiff

Congratulations to our Bright Lights Club Members:
(Raising over $1,000!)
Faith Eury
Francis Fry
Eric Moore
Julie Christison
Susan Reid
Janet Kruger
Melissa Hollerith
Barbara Dillard
Cara Parker
Wendy Goff
Judy F. Moore
William O'Keefe
Christina Beeman
Shirley Dandridge
Meg Helsley
Dan Clift
Julie Christensen
Bill Hall
Jamaka White
Pamela Smith
Katherine Sikes
Patricia Farber
Jennifer Baker
Sarah Sorukas
Kim Lindsay
Brian Skorup
Sharen Brann
Nancy Kells McNamara
Nancy Blevins
Jim Pacazzo
Christina Menze
Sharleen Cootes
Tammy McCollum
Carol Amernick
Bobby Wright
Michelle Payne
Veronica Marquez
Tim Banazek
Amanda Moore
Matthew Irvine

Rewards just for YOU!

2010-11-08T09:05:00.009-05:00

Our most received question is: Now that the Walks are done, fundraising is too right?

Our Answer: Absolutely Not!!

Many teams have the misconception that just because the walks are over that the fundraising stops too. Think of the walk as a halfway party to the end of the season, it’s to reward all of your hard work so far and to keep you jazzed until the end of the year! We accept funds up until December 31st!

You are probably wondering why should you continue fundraising if the walk is over, what are your benefits…well we have plenty of rewards in place to keep you motivated up until December 31st. Check them out!

Reward 1:
• For every $50 raised online by 11/19 you will be entered into a drawing for a five disc DVD changer, Messenger bag with the LTN logo, COBY Personal CD player, Panasonic CD/Cassette or a portable boom box! Winners will be announced the week of Thanksgiving!

Reward 2:
• This November you can earn free holiday movie tickets while continuing to raise funds. For every $100 raised online between Nov. 1-30 , you will earn one free movie ticket code from Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination. Funds raised during the November promotion will be applied to your Light The Night incentive level. There is no limit to the number of codes a walker can earn. Funds must be raised online between November 1 and November 30.

Become a Member of our Club:
• Every year we recognize individuals who raised $1000 or more by inducting them into our “Bright Lights” Club

• Every year we recognize teams and individuals who have raised $5000 or more by inducting them into our “Shining Stars” Club

• We also recognize individuals and teams who has raised $10,000 or more by inducting them into our Winner’s Circle

• The benefits: members of these clubs are invited to a special awards night to be recognized for their accomplishments!

So why not use the rewards above to help meet and succeed your team and individual goals so you can become members of our exclusive club!

Talk to your local Campaign Coordinator for fundraising ideas and to get more supplies so you can continue helping patients live longer, better lives!

For Richmond & Fredericksburg: Contact Tiffany Tucker at tiffany.tucker@lls.org or 1-800-766-0797
For Hampton & Virginia Beach: Contact Lauren Cecora at lauren.cecora@lls.org or 1-800-866-4483

Silence Cancer

2010-10-13T14:11:00.005-04:00

Go Silent for Cancer

What a statement. Going silent for 100 days and using only social media to communicate in order to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It almost doesn’t seem plausible, except it happened. Clark Harris did it and to this day has raised over $ 18,000.
What if we were to Go Silent? Just for a day. One day to show our friends, family, and the world that we would go silent to cure blood cancers? Let’s make Friday a 1000 Dollar Friday.
We challenge you to do it. We know that Friday, October 15, 2010 each team, or even individual, can raise $1000. Don’t think you could pull off the Silent Campaign? No worries, we have other suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:

1) Ask your boss or school administrator to let employees wear jeans to work and pay $10 to do so
(Why 10? Because every 10 minutes someone dies from blood cancer)

2) Sell Halloween Candy Grams at your school or office. Take the orders and donations now and distribute the Grams week of Halloween

3) Jail N Bail: area business and community leaders who “turn themselves in” will be treated to an hour of making phone calls to family, friends and business associates to get donations for your team

The possibilities are endless to reach the goal. The most important thing to make this goal a success is to:

1) Set a Goal- discuss it with members of your team or team captain and figure out what you want to do
2) Make a Plan- delegate responsibilities so it isn’t overwhelming for one person, and plan out the goal
3) Make it happen- now is the time to make a positive difference

So what’s stopping you? If one man can go silent for 100 days to show the world the importance of curing blood cancer, then we can achieve anything we set our minds to. Every dollar helps fund our mission to develop new research for cures, every dollar helps patients live longer, better lives, every dollar helps to cure blood cancers.

For more information on Silence Cancer go to: http://socialmediaexperiment.com/

For more information about this year’s Honored Heroes:

Fredericksburg
Virginia Beach

Expecting and Inspiring! By Jason Marlowitz

2010-10-11T10:37:00.002-04:00

When Sue Willis from LLS asked if I'd like to write a post for the blog, I was honored to be considered. Then, I realized it had been some time since I told my story. Almost three years passed since my doctor handed me a piece of paper with the magic word - undetectable! As a CML patient, that's the best outcome I could hope for. After months of taking a miracle drug, the cancerous white blood cells that threatened my life were no longer being identified by very sensitive testing. Monthly visits to my oncologist began to reiterate that same finding. Slowly, I began to reclaim the dreams I put on hold when I was first diagnosed. Though I may never be leukemia-free, the repeat successes of my treatment allow me to move on and live life.

Now I take time to think about the road I've been down and it's a little hard to believe. It started with a simple visit to the PCP for what seemed like mild flu symptoms. It continued with tough talk from doctors about possibly not being able to start a family and a probability of needing a bone marrow transplant. Slowly after starting treatment, and with each ounce of good news, I found myself fortunate and thankful for the miracle pill that was making me healthy again. I've been on this path since April 3, 2007. Since that time, my wife and I bought and renovated our first house together, I finished my first half marathon, and my wife and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of our first son, Jonah. With all of that going on, there's little time to think about having leukemia - and that's a great thing.

In just a few days I'll be in the hospital holding my boy and I'll reflect again about how fortunate I am to have had the support from family, friends, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Thank you,
Jason Marlowitz

Fredericksburg's Honored Heroes

2010-09-16T12:00:00.001-04:00

The Fredericksburg Light the Night walk is only 30 days away! Are you excited yet?

Here at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, we are proud to give some spotlight to the Honored Heroes for the October 16th Light the Night Walk in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
This year we have two honored heroes who are both survivors of Leukemia and they have been hard at work getting ready for this year’s Light the Night.

Our first Honored Hero is Tomas Nichols. Tomas recently opened a lemonade stand with his sister to raise money for toys. During the fundraiser, he decided that donating the money towards Light the Night would be more important than buying toys. This isn’t the first time Tomas has pushed for more funds to be used in helping to find a cure for cancer. In the past, he has asked his father to donate a large sum of money towards the walk because he felt that finding better medicine to battle against Leukemia was more important than having toys!

Take a look at Tomas in front of his Lemonade Stand:

Our second Honored Hero is Graham Parker. Graham sent the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society his own blog post to share with everyone. Here is what he said:

I'm 11. We need to raise money for blood cancers.
I am walking because I'm a survivor.
I am thankful to God and the people that walked before me. They helped me get better.
I hope that we find a cure someday for good.
Sincerely,
Graham

Isn’t it amazing how these two boys have such huge hearts?! Motivation like theirs the reason why we are successful in helping blood cancer patients live longer, better lives!

Haven’t registered to walk yet? Visit Light the Night to register or donate to a team who is currently registered to walk!

Dancing Together...Changing Lives Forever!

2010-06-21T15:16:00.004-04:00

Deep Run Dance Marathon Donates to LLS
June 21, 2010 – Earlier this year, hundreds of Deep Run High School students gave the phrase "dance the night away" a whole new meaning. Holding their fourth annual Dance Marathon this past March, students danced almost nonstop for 27 hours, all the while raising an astounding $136,000 for area organizations.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was one of the many recipients, receiving $15,000. The Coal Pit Learning Center, Acca Shriners, Help Claire Help Kids, Easter Seals UCP Virginia, Camp Baker, Full Circle Grief Center, Mended Little Hearts of Central Virginia, the children’s cancer group ASK, Fan Free Clinic, Embrace Richmond and Richmond Outreach Center also received donations.
Yet David and Kathleen Kern, two of the school’s 2010 Dance Marathon Coordinators, said that the event goes far beyond raising money for charity.
"It really provides an opportunity for students to be a part of something very powerful and very emotional," they explained in a letter. "They get to experience something that goes above and beyond what most high school students ever feel, and hopefully they will carry that with them when they move on in life."
As a thank you gift, LLS will be presenting the school with a customized banner, recognizing their achievement and charitable contribution. Michael Boykin, owner of Displays, Designs & Signs in Richmond, graciously donated the banner in honor of a client’s father who recently died of leukemia.
Deep Run’s honorable donation will be utilized to further advance LLS’s mission of improving the quality of life of patients and their families as well as curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. As a non-profit organization, LLS relies on the generosity of individual and corporate contributions to support its life-saving research, and with their help, innovative programs are underway and breakthroughs are within our reach. This gift will go a long way in bringing hope to the more than 912,000 Americans battling blood cancers today.
"It was so incredible to see our young kids care enough to do something selfless without any personal gain attached to it," added David and Kathleen Kern. "This is the true meaning of giving."

A Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Story by Jennifer MacKenzie Baker

2010-05-13T09:35:00.007-04:00

When the Light The Night facebook page requested stories for inspiration, one really moved us. Here is Jennifer's story:

I’m a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor who was diagnosed two and a half weeks after the birth of my son Joshua (August 2007). It was an emergency situation because the tumor was in my chest and was pressing on my lungs and encroaching on my heart. I was hospitalized for a week and immediately began chemotherapy and then radiation. It was an unbelievable time as we navigated a new baby and a serious illness. We were and are truly blessed to have amazing support from family and friends who saw us through the craziness of that time.

My recovery took about a year and a half after the end of treatment, but today I am feeling well and getting clean bills of health. Currently, I’m attempting to rebuild some muscle mass, work as a freelance writer and chase my son. Life is good! (I have gotten a great deal of good advice and information from Crazy, Sexy Life website and would highly recommend it to any cancer patient.)

Thank you for the work you’re doing to eradicate cancer.

Thanks for sharing Jennifer! To read more about her story, visit her Richmond Magazine Article.

Participating in Light The Night and raising funds for research helps find cures for those battling blood cancers like Jennifer. Register your team today at www.lightthenight.org/register.

In her own words... by Winter Elkins Age 7

2010-04-28T15:38:00.004-04:00

When Heather Elkins asked her seven year old daughter to tell her story about her battle against ALL, Winter had quite a bit to say about her experience. Here is her story in her own words:

"When I first got this cancer, I was very very sick. I stayed in my mom's bed for about a month when they tried to figure out why I was sick. Then I went to Children's Hospital King's Daughters for a while and they figured out I had leukemia. My mom had a feeling that was what I had from the first time I got a fever. I felt a little sad since I didn't want to die. When I got out of the hospital, I got to go home and that made me happy. I got to sleep in my own bed even though I think the hospital beds are really cool. I had to go to the hospital a whole bunch to get my medicine. The medicines make me very sick, but they help me. My doctors and nurses are so wonderful. Dr. V is my doctor, Kathy and Kourtney are my nurses and Brian lets me play all the games I want. I love to go to the hospital most days because I can play with all my new friends. My family and all their friends have helped by donating money for us to pay our bills and even help donate to the hospital and other things that help kids with cancer. If I have one thing to tell people about my cancer it is to pray for all the other children who have cancer and even me!"

Please join LLS as we welcome Winter as the 2010 Peninsula/Newport News Honored Hero! Thank you for becoming an inspriation to Light The Night!

My Story by Danielle Bailey

2010-04-02T13:05:00.002-04:00

This is my story…

My name is Danielle. I’ve been through many hardships throughout my life, but I think they helped prepare me for February 15, 2008. I was 24 years old. I was sent to a general surgeon for a biopsy on a lymph node that had become enlarged under my right jaw. Before they performed the biopsy, the surgeon did a physical exam. Afterwards, in the best way he could, he told me he was 99% sure that I had lymphoma and it was in a late stage. Now we just needed to find out exactly what kind I had. Like many others hearing that kind of news, I thought I was going to die. Everyone had to leave the room so they could prepare for the biopsy. As I lay on the exam table waiting for the doctors to come back in, I finally began to cry. I prayed to God to give me strength to fight.

After waiting several weeks for biopsy results, bone marrow aspirations, and scan results, the fight was about to begin. I was told I had stage IV Follicular Lymphoma with transformation to Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. The cancer involved all of my lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. I began to research and read everything I could about my cancer. I had a great support system, but I believed my greatest support had to come from within. I had to educate and prepare myself for what I knew would be life changing. For what seemed like an eternity, I received 6 rounds of R-CHOP. I had my good days and my bad days. On the really bad days, I told myself that this too shall pass. I kept hope.

On September 2nd, my phone rings, it’s my oncologist. She said she couldn’t wait the 2 days before my next appointment. She said “You’re in complete remission!” In shock, I said “what….really?” After I got off of the phone it finally hit me, I began to ball like a baby. So many emotions, but I was proud.

I think some people ask themselves, ‘Why me?’ Well, why not me? I would never wish this on anyone else. I know that my type of cancer will return one day, but in the meantime I stay hopeful that a cure will be found. As a cancer survivor, I feel that I must help others like me find their strength. I want others to know that they are not alone. And if I can help just one person, my cancer journey was worth it.

Baylake Pines School Makes a Big Swoosh for LLS, by Christina Verbanic

2010-03-25T09:58:00.007-04:00

Baylake Pines School in Virginia Beach, Virginia held a charity Basketball Tournament on February 25th and 26th to benefit The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. The eighth grade class of John Taylor rallied to make a difference in the fight against blood cancers. Their inspiration was Jackson Verbanic, once a student of Baylake Pines who had battled leukemia not once but twice. His courageous battle inspired the school’s basketball coach, John Taylor to hold this charity event. This year, the school led by the eighth grade students sold LLS bears and Light the Night balloons to raise money. The classes that sold the most balloons were rewarded with an ice cream party served by the eighth graders. Never have I seen corridors papered with so many balloons or seen so many students excited about a cause.

The Basketball Tournament was held over two days. Over 1,000 people attended and the event raised over $6,000 for LLS. St. Gregory the Great Catholic School won the tournament but the true winners were the students, teachers, and families of Baylake Pines who came together to make a difference for such an important cause. Coach Taylor and the schools Director, Joan Eckert, succeeded in bringing their school together for this great cause. Well done, BLP!

Welcome spring with a new wardrobe and support life-saving cancer research by participating in the Give & Get campaign from March 18th - 21st

2010-03-16T09:16:00.003-04:00

Download your LLS coupon today and use it in any Gap, Old Navy, Piperline or Banana Republic store from Thursday, March 18th - Sunday, March, 21st. Give & Get with Gap and LLS this spring and take advantage of a 30% discount while you support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's work to cure cancer and improve the lives of patients. 5% of what you spend will go to LLS when you use the LLS discount coupon.

Share the LLS Give & Get coupon with your friends, welcome spring with a new wardrobe and support life-saving cancer research by participating in the Give & Get campaign from March 18th - 21st. Please note: This offer is good for in-store purchases only, including all Gap, Inc. Outlet stores.

"Why I Light The Night" by Katie Powell

2010-02-26T12:18:00.008-05:00

Hello “Light the Night” walkers, supporters, and survivors! My name is Katie Powell and I want to say thank you for joining me on this journey to raise money for blood cancers. I want to share a little bit about why the Leukemia & Lymphoma society, and Light the Night, mean so much to me. Here is my story:

March 30, 2007: I was working full time as a flight nurse, and was also a full time graduate student, working towards becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Life was moving very fast: working hard, studying hard, and enjoying my life as a 27 year old. I had scheduled an appointment with my primary care doctor the week before, after continuing to have shortness of breath when I walked, cough, and wheezing. I had become concerned after I had been treated for bronchitis in January and all other symptoms, other than a dry cough and shortness of breath, had subsided after about 10 days. I went to my doctor’s appointment that day, after working the night before, and I truly believed I would leave with an inhaler and that would be it. My doctor ordered a chest x-ray and that’s when my life changed: he told me that my left lung was completely full of fluid. When I saw the xray, I couldn’t believe it was mine. All of my left lung was white, when on xray, it should be black(which represents air on an xray). My initial reaction was relief: relief that I wasn’t crazy and all of these symptoms were from something that we could fix easily, and quickly…so I thought. My doctor then told me that I needed to go to the ER and get a CT scan. I was not concerned at this point because I really only thought I was dealing with fluid in my lung, which with a quick tap, could be drained out of my lung and I would be on my way, and ready for work the next day.

I got in my car and began driving to the ER. On the way, I called Jeff and assured him that all was okay and to take his time coming to meet me at the hospital. My next phone call was to my dad, who being a physician himself, seemed a bit more concerned. Looking back, I’m sure my dad knew--He knew that the large majority of effusions are caused by cancer. He casually said that he and Mom would be heading to Richmond soon to be with me. I insisted that they not come, because I was not going to let the doctor’s admit me to the hospital because I had to work the next day. My dear father, knowing that the next few hours were probably going to change our lives, calmly insisted that they would be coming to Richmond and if I was not admitted to the hospital and everything was okay, we would go to dinner and have a lovely evening together. He never let on that he was nervous and scared. Dad had a bad feeling, and he was right.

The ER was great and efficient. I started to notice that people seemed concerned about me: me, a nurse myself, was not into being treated like a “sick person”. They put me on oxygen and rolled me around everywhere which I thought was ridiculous. After all, I was fine, and I would be out of there and back to my life in no time. Or so I thought. I had the CT scan and then we waited for the results. When the doctor came in and told us that it was a huge(15cm)mass, and not just fluid, my heart sank. I said, “Mass?...Like, Cancer?” The doctor said, “Yes, cancer. Most likely Thymoma or Lymphoma.” After the doctor left the room, I fell apart. Jeff held me, and told me that we would get through this…together. Jeff, just age 24 at the time, immediately became my rock…and our journey through cancer began.

After I was biopsied, I was allowed to go home. Before I left the hospital, the doctor gave me a piece of paper with my appointment information on it. Not just any doctor, an oncologist…a cancer doctor. Up to this point in my nursing career, I had not taken care of many cancer patients, on purpose. Cancer patients made me uncomfortable because, in my mind, cancer killed people, which was sad and not something I was interested in dealing with…too much emotion involved. And here I was, a cancer patient.

Five days later, we walked into the oncologist’s office and reality set in. Most everyone in the waiting room was elderly, bald, and “sick” looking. What was I doing here? “Classic Hodgkins Lymphoma” is what the oncologist said when he came in the room. I looked at my mom, who had tears in her eyes, and I lost it. I sobbed while mom and Jeff held me and I tried to accept the label of “Hodgkins patient”. When I gathered myself, I looked at the doctor and asked what the plan would be. He said 6 months of chemotherapy, with radiation once the tumor had become smaller. The oncologist was very positive, saying it was the best diagnosis we could have hoped for, and Hodkgins was the “good cancer”. Good cancer? How about, no cancer! He explained how treatable and curable this disease was and answered all of our many questions. I asked him if I was going to lose my hair and he said yes. As the image of me bald flashed in my head, my mind went crazy with questions about what the next 6 months of my life would be like. It was all very surreal. When we walked out of the oncology office that day, I knew our lives had changed and an adventure had begun.

My first day of chemo was the day of the Virginia Tech Massacre, April 16, 2007. While I sat in the chemo chair, surrounded by my parents, sister, and Jeff(my boyfriend at the time, and now my husband), our eyes were glued to the TV--total chaos and tragedy in a place so close to home. We were all in shock, and couldn’t imagine what the families of loved ones lost must be feeling. It was all a good distraction, I suppose, from the painful beginning of my battle with cancer. And somehow, the tragedy at Virginia Tech, left me feeling lucky: lucky to have a chance to be with my family, and share with them how much I loved them, even if I had cancer and was in the fight of my life.

The day after my last chemotherapy treatment, I participated in my first Light the Night event. My family and friends all joined me as we walked together carrying different colored balloons. I carried a white balloon: I was a survivor. I looked around and only saw a few white balloons, and I remember thinking that there needed to be more white balloons: more survivors. It was an emotional night for me, as well as my family and friends as we listened to another survivor speak about her experience. I knew that when I was cured of cancer, I would do everything I could to help raise money and awareness about blood cancers. The work the LLS is doing is creating more survivors, and I am one of them. The research that is done with the funds raised by Light the Night and Team in Training participants, is allowing people like to me to beat cancer, and continue to live amazing lives. Thank you for being a part of such a wonderful event, and I look forward to meeting you in October!

Welcome!

2010-02-18T13:50:00.004-05:00

Thank you for visiting the Virginia Chapter's Light The Night blog! Here we invite survivors, walkers, and team captains to submit their inspriational stories, share successful fundraising ideas, and answer the question "why do you Light The Night." Whether you have a personal connection or just truly want to make a difference in the lives of the nearly 1 Million Americans living with blood cancers, we all have a reason for lighting the night.

So be a Champion for Cures...submit your stories about what your team is doing and what Light The Night means to you to Tiffany Tucker at tiffany.tucker@lls.org. Or if you have your own blog, send your link to tiffany.tucker@lls.org. You will be motivating other teams with the same goal: finding a cure for blood cancers and helping patients live longer, better lives.

Shine On!