ANAHEIM, Calif.—Thousands gathered at Angel Stadium on Nov. 17 to support fundraising efforts to end blood cancer through The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting the disease across the world.
The organization’s Light the Night event was hosted in the stadium’s parking lot, the area was zoned off to accommodate volunteers and visitors from all walks. Many either were affected by blood cancer such as Lymphoma or attended in support of a loved one with the disease.
Participants carried different colored lanterns signifying “bringing light to the darkness of cancer” through research and cures.
Those carrying red lanterns signified they were supporting someone suffering from blood cancer, while those carrying white indicated they survived blood cancer themselves. Gold lanterns were in remembrance of those who had died from the disease.
Included in the over four-hour event was a large “Remembrance Tent,” where participants wrote the names of loved ones currently or previously suffering from blood cancer.
Their messages, written on parchment shaped like blood drops, were then displayed on stands inside the tent as recordings of loved ones played in the background, recounting names and memories of those they know who were affected by the disease.
“It’s hard to talk about [Light the Night] without getting emotional,” event sponsor representative Sandy Reimer-Highfill told The Epoch Times. “Being able to help and give back to people suffering is everything.”
Highfill represented GIS Surveyors, a San Diego-based land surveying company sponsoring the event.
During the opening ceremony, it was announced program sponsors and participants helped raise over $300,000 that evening to help fund blood cancer research donated to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The event’s signature “Light The Night” ceremony brought numerous participants in the crowd to tears, where each group carrying one of the three lantern colors was given their moment to light and raise their lantern in the air.
Those carrying white lanterns made their way to the designated “Circle of Survivors,” where they were honored for their “strength and courage” in fighting the disease, after which they lit and raised their lanterns in the air.
“Survivors embody the courage and determination that we all strive to live by in our everyday lives. … They give us hope for the future,” event emcee and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year Valerie Sargent said onstage.
After all three lantern colors had their moment, all were called on to raise their lanterns into the air at once in solidarity.
“This is … emotional,” Sargent said through tears. “Look around you; look at this.”
The event ended with a Light the Night Walk where participants carried their lanterns around the stadium to celebrate, honor, and remember those affected by cancer.
