On September 27th it was a beautiful Saturday, and with the colorful lights emanating from hundreds of lanterns; it was made an even more beautiful night. That particular Saturday, in Bishop Park, Henry Ford College’s student nurses were among hundreds of others who took part in the Light the Night Walk for cancer. The Student Nurses Association (SNA), as well as local businesses and community members, rallied together in Wyandotte, MI to raise funds for leukemia. “It’s wonderful to see so many people come together in support of others,” said Asma Abdul Lateef, SNA member. “Whether or not they have a loved one or are in no way directly affected by it (leukemia); it’s a really good thing to see that people do care.”

Light the Night is an event in which friends and families join together as teams in order to raise awareness and contribute funding towards finding a way to combat blood cancer. Not only that, but the fun and games made this event something that even the kids would enjoy being a part of. At this year’s Light the Night Walk there was free food, music, face painting, and even a bouncy house! Booths were set up and lanterns were given to all those who participated in the walk.

This event, which is a campaign of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), brings communities together in order to honor those lost to the disease, as well as those who are survivors (www.lightthenight.org). The lighting of the lanterns symbolizes “shining a light” on this rare form of blood cancer. By raising awareness the LLS aims to fund cures and provide access to treatments for thousands of patients.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has existed since 1949, and since its establishment has contributed in breakthrough therapies targeting cancer cells that did not exist 25 years ago (www.lightthenight.org). With the help of the LLS and campaigns like Light the Night lives that were going to be saved tomorrow, can be saved today.