Survivors of blood cancers and their family members were given a glimpse of hope Saturday with the Light the Night fundraiser and celebration at Ascarate Park in the Lower Valley.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance and services to families and patients affected by blood cancers, led a walk of about 400 people -- some of them cancer survivors -- around Ascarate Lake to encourage patients and raise money.
The annual event is geared to helping the society pay for research and educational programs as well as help cancer patients with transportation, medical services and more.
Janine Collins, a campaign manager for the society's New Mexico-El Paso chapter, said organizers hoped
that through donations, Saturday's walk would raise about $50,000. The walk also is aimed at lifting the spirits of families and survivors struggling with cancer.
"It gives them hope," she said. "It builds their morale because they know they're not alone going through it."
The walk included a party at the park that featured live entertainment, food and games for children.
Mark Baeza went to the celebration and fundraiser because he knows all too well the difficulties of dealing with cancer. His son, 17-year-old Jason Lee Baeza, was diagnosed with cancer about three years ago, but has gone into remission.
Baeza echoed Collins' sentiment that often, families dealing with cancer feel alone and helpless and can become depressed.
"It's
horrifying," he said. "As you can imagine, going through this as a parent, it's one of our worst nightmares."
For more information: www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.
Darren Meritz may be reached at dmeritz@elpasotimes.com; 546-6127. To see more of the El Paso Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.elpasotimes.com. Copyright (c) 2008, El Paso Times, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
