On Sept. 29, the Light the Night Walk took place at Wilson Farm Park in Berwyn. Organized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Light the Night Walk generated awareness of cancer, as well as money for cancer research.
Walkers who raised $100 or more were known as “champions for cures.” This earned them a T-shirt, extra refreshments, and a balloon. Inside the balloons, there were lights to be used when the walk began. The balloons were different colors, symbolizing that walker’s relationship with cancer. The T-shirts also had different colored balloons on them, as well as different phrases.
Red balloons, for supporters, were paired with shirts that said “I walk because someone’s life depends on it.” Yellow balloons went with shirts that said “I walk in memory of lives lost.” White, for patients and survivors of cancer, said, “I walk because my life depends on it.”
Before the walk began at 6:30 pm, there were a variety of activities. In the information tent, walkers could find out about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission statement. The refreshment stand had free water and chips for everyone, as well as hotdogs and Tastykakes for “champions for cures.” The Kids Zone had coloring sheets, face painting, and a fire truck moon bounce/slide. At 5:15 p.m., there was a Remembrance Ceremony.
There were hundreds of volunteers helping with all of the activities. Over 80 volunteers were employees of the company Vanguard. There were 36 volunteers from West Chester University’s Circle K club. Marissa Caldwell, one of the service chairs for WCU’s Circle K, said she finds out about events through the Office of Service-Learning and Volunteer Programs, and then organizes Circle K’s involvement with those events. Circle K members volunteered at the event from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., helping with T-shirt distribution, the Kid’s Zone, balloon set-up, the refreshment tent, and more.
At 6:30 pm, volunteers cheered on walkers, as they began. As walkers switched on the lights in their balloons, yellow, white, and red balloons were lighting the night against the darkness of cancer.
Theresa Kelly is a first-year student majoring in English literature secondary education. She can be reached at TK780615@wcupa.edu.