October 6, 2011

VU team forming for Light the Night walk

VU team forming for Light the Night walk

Vanderbilt University has issued an open invitation to the Middle Tennessee community to join the VU team for the 2011 Light the Night cancer walk which will be held Friday, Oct. 14.

Light the Night is the major fundraising event for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), the world’s largest organization dedicated to funding research and providing support for patients with blood cancers.

LLS has committed $250 million to international research designed to find new treatments for these often-lethal disorders.

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is one of the sponsors for this year’s Nashville fundraiser. Individuals can sign up to walk or simply make a donation to help fund the LLS research and patient support efforts.

The local Light the Night event begins in downtown Nashville at LP Field. Participants will walk a 2-mile route across the Cumberland River at dusk while carrying colorful lighted balloons to honor those patients and families who have battled blood cancers.

Cancer survivors carry white balloons, supporters hold red balloons and gold balloons are carried in memory of those who have died from these diseases.

Check-in begins at 6 p.m., the opening ceremonies kick off at 7 p.m., and the walkers begin their trek at 7:30 p.m. Strollers are welcome.

To find more information and to sign up, visit www.viccfallwalks.org. Contact Jennifer Rice at 936-3712 or jennifer.rice@vanderbilt.edu.