Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light The Night”: A Project for the Whole Family

My service project this month was taking part in Light the Night fundraiser for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I looked forward to the event because it sounded different and neat - a walk for a great cause that takes place at night with lit balloons. I also looked forward to it because it was the first service project that I’ve done this year that allowed me to involve my kids.

Light The Night is a fundraising walk that benefit’s LLS’ mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The Eastern North Carolina Light the Night Walks are taking place in three locations – Raleigh (October 17th), Durham (October 22nd) and Wilmington (September 24th). Last year, they raised $365,000. This year, their goal is $400,000, and reports from event organizers indicate that their goal is within reach.

I thought Light the Night might be a good opportunity to plant a community service seed with my four-year old daughter. I tried to explain that we were going to walk with lots and lots of other people to raise money for sick people. She seemed to take some of it in as we decorated our team banner Saturday afternoon at home. That evening at the event, however, the excitement of music, dance performers, a bounce house and balloons pushed aside the greater meaning. Nevertheless, she and her younger sister had a fabulous time and the seed has been planted.

I will admit that asking for money, even for a wonderful cause, is not one of my strengths. I really dragged my heels on reaching out to folks, but I finally sent a short and sweet e-mail to family and friends the day of the event and I was very, very surprised to watch the Duffort Team quickly surpass our fundraising goal within a couple of days. (LLS is accepting Light The Night donations through the end of the year.) A great, big “THANK YOU!” to all of our generous supporters.

To find out if a Light the Night Walk is taking place near you, visit http://www.lightthenight.org/. For more information on The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, check out http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/.