Help Carry the Light of Hope

We learned in 2000 that my mother has chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Fortunately, this is one of the mildest forms of this life-threatening disease. Also fortunately, Mom remains, for now, symptom free. The whole family has become active supporters of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Mom does volunteer work at their Westchester headquarters.

Nearly three-quarters of a million Americans have blood cancers: leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma. Every five minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone dies. Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer death among children and young adults under the age of 20.

But the news is not all bad. Thanks to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, founded in 1949, hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised and devoted to research (more than $483 million), education and advocacy, and patient services. Society-funded research has contributed to many breakthrough cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, bone-marrow and stem-cell transplantation, and new, targeted oral therapies. But there is still no cure.

Every year the Society organizes a series of Light the Night fund-raising events across America. For the last couple of years, my parents and I - together with more than a dozen friends and family members and thousands of other people— walked in the New York City event. This involves a twilight walk from the South Street Seaport in Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge and back again. Walkers carry lighted balloons, and it is truly an awesome and moving spectacle. The 2006 walk is scheduled for Thursday evening, October 5.

I hope that you will sponsor my walk as generously as possible. All donations are 100% tax deductible. You may mail a check to me at 339 E. 88th St., Apt. 2R, New York, NY 10128, payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or you may make a secure donation on this Web page with a credit card.

Thank you so much for your help!