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Community Corner

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk

Conshohocken, PA (September 9, 2013) – Over 2,000 people from Bucks and Montgomery Counties will turn out for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s ® (LLS) Light The Night Walk ® (LTN) on Saturday, October 19th at Bucks County Community College in Newtown. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. and the Walk will start approximately at 6:30 p.m.

 The Walk is an evening filled with inspiration. During the 2 miles leisurely walk, participants will carry illuminated balloons. Survivors will carry white balloons; red by supporters and gold in memory of loved ones who lost their lives to cancer. Thousands of walkers will form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.

 Michael Riotto of Warrick Township will be walking as a survivor with his family. Riotto’s battle with cancer began after a trip to the New Jersey shore. While body surfing with his son, Riotto broke his neck and was hospitalized. Riotto credits this event as a life-saving one. Shortly after his hospitalization, the doctors discovered Multiple Myeloma and his cancer treatment began.

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 Riotto maintained his positive attitude throughout his treatment. “I am and have always been an optimist on this speeding train,” said Riotto. “You always have to look for those little silver linings.”

After undergoing chemotherapy, Riotto learned he would need a stem cell transplant. Nearly 2 years after his transplant, Riotto is in remission and leading a healthy life.

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“As our speeding train continues its journey, at least the ride has become a more comfortable ride through the efforts of LLS, and the efforts of all of you,” said Riotto.

There is no fundraising minimum to participate in the Walk, but every walker is encouraged to become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help fight blood cancer. Funds raised by teams and individual walkers will provide lifesaving blood cancer research; free educational materials and events for patients and their families; local programs, such as Family Support Groups and First Connection, a peer-to-peer counseling program; and comprehensive, personalized assistance though.  

“Light The Night Walk gives hope to patients and their families and lets them know that they are not alone in their battle against cancer,” said Maida R. Milone, the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. “It is a night to pay tribute to lives touched by cancer, honor those we have lost, and celebrate the lives that have been saved.”

Corporate sponsors of the 2013 Bucks-Mont LTN Walk are FMC Corporation,, Independence Blue Cross, HeadStrong Foundation, Janssen Biotech, Inc., The Avery Foundation, IMS Health, Cancer Treatment Centers of America®. Media sponsors are Fox 29, Philadelphia Business Journal and Daily Local News.

The Walk last year raised $290,000 for the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. This year’s goal is $320,000. It is still not too late to register for Light The Night. For more information, please call (800) 482-2873 or visit www.lightthenight.org/epa.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS mission is to 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 and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada including the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

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