Dallas Light The Night Honored Hero: Brennen Lyons

The Light The Night Walk (LTN) to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) celebrates participants in all stages of a cancer battle - patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and family.  Each year the LTN team selects a couple honored heroes for each walk site to serve as inspiration.

Brennen Lyons is one of the 2017 honored heroes for the Dallas Walk.  As you read his story, told by his mother, you will see why he was chosen for this honor.  He is such a strong little boy.

Brennen was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2.

His mother tells his story in her own words.

"Just the word “Leukemia” was scary to me at the time.  I had no idea everything that went along with it and the journey we were about to be on as a family.  I guess the story really starts the first week of June.  I had to be admitted to the hospital to be monitored for a week before I could deliver Brennen’s little sister, Brooklyn.  It was the first time I had been away from Brennen overnight.  He started to be extremely cranky, not eating well and waking up at night.  We contributed it all to the fact he was away from his mommy for the first time.  I finally delivered my baby girl on June 11, 2010.  That day, my parents brought Brennen up to the hospital to see me and his new sister.  I immediately asked them if they thought his face looked puffy.  Everyone told me he looked fine and nothing was wrong.  However, when we got home, the crying, not eating well, etc. continued.  I called his pediatrician and got a same day appointment.  Verdict- ear infection.  Ok, no big deal.  He had several before this one.  But two days later and he was not improving and now his little lymph nodes were swollen.  Took him back to pediatrician and they explained the infection was just really bad and gave a stronger antibiotic.  Next morning, his little neck looked like he swallowed a golf ball.  Once again, back to the pediatrician.  This time, they decided to run labs.  Nurse came back in the room and explained the sample didn’t work and they needed to get another sample.  I didn’t think much of it.  About 10 minutes later, the pediatrician came in and started crying.  Instinctively, I started crying and I didn’t even know anything yet!  The fact the doctor was crying was a very bad sign!  She explained to me that her machine wouldn’t even read Brennen’s white blood count due to it being high and that she was certain he has either Lymphoma or Leukemia.  My heart sunk but a part of me thought she could be wrong.   She called Texas Children’s Hospital and told them we were on our way.

When we arrived, they were indeed waiting for us.  They instantly took us back to a room, ran labs, did an echocardiogram, x-rays- you name it.  Within a few hours, they confirmed he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  His WBC was so high they were afraid his little organs were going to shut down and he had a large mass around his heart and trachea.  He would have literally suffocated if I had not taken him in when I did and the mass continued to grow.  Due to his high counts, he was admitted to the ICU.  That day and the days to follow for the next 3 ½ years have left memories a mother should never have.  Watching what he had to go through was heartbreaking.

Brennen is truly my hero.  He would wear a smile even when in pain.  He endured 26 Lumbar punctures, 10 days of radiation, 6 cancer center hospital stays, 1 ICU stay, 7 blood transfusions, 2 bone marrow aspirations and 3 years, 3 months and 27 days of chemotherapy!!

I thank God every day for Brennen’s strength and courage to get through.  I am so grateful!  I pray for a cure so others do not have to go through this."

Inspired by Brennen? Consider walking alongside him on Saturday, November 11th at Trinity Groves in Dallas. Registration is now open. 

Fort Worth Light The Night Honored Hero: Cliff Lewis

The Light The Night Walk (LTN) to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) celebrates participants in all stages of a cancer battle - patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and family.  Each year the LTN team selects a couple honored heroes for each walk site to serve as inspiration.

Cliff Lewis is one of the 2017 honored heroes for the Fort Worth Walk.  As you read his story you will see why he was chosen for this honor.  He is the embodiment of what an honored hero should be - determined, optimistic, dedicated, and selfless.

"June 11, 2012, just eleven days after proposing to his now wife and six months after the birth of their first daughter, Cliff was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. The diagnosis came with many challenges along with multiple lumbar punctures, radiation, blood transfusions, and over 200 hours of chemotherapy.

Cliff's journey with LLS Light the Night Walk began in 2012 with the persuasion of his older sister while he was enduring treatment. Watching the support of the local community and caregivers and listening to the moving testimonials of current patients and survivors, it inspired him to dedicate his time and emotions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Currently, Cliff is celebrating his five year cancerversary with his wife and three kids cancer-free. With the support of donors and volunteers that share the same vision to rid the world of cancer and improve the quality of life for patients and caregivers, we can continue to have more success stories similar to Cliff's."

Inspired by Cliff?  Consider walking alongside him on Sunday, November 5th at the Fort Worth Walk at Panther Island Pavilion. Registration is now open.

Emily's Story

"Whether it was addressing thank you letters or helping to fill out grant applications, it always felt like I was making some sort of difference."  Emily, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, talks about her summer internship program with the North Texas Chapter.

We are currently seeking fall interns for both the Dallas and Fort Worth offices. Contact Alexis Meyer at Alexis.Meyer@lls.org to learn more about the available opportunities.

Read on for a little interview with Emily. 

I'm originally from Allen, TX and graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2015. I'm currently a junior finance and economics major with an Italian minor at the University of Notre Dame. At school, I am involved with student government, serve as my dorm's service commissioner, and intern at the Ronald McDonald Family Center of South Bend. I have loved getting the chance to be a part of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light The Night and Team In Training programs this summer and hope to be able to participate in a Team In Training running event sometime soon!

What made you decide to intern at LLS?

I first learned about LLS from my cousin Peggy Stephens who works with Light The Night in Houston. Her work for that campaign and with LLS in general completely blew me away so when I learned about this opportunity in Dallas, I could not wait to be a part of the work that LLS does and to learn more about the programs that we offer.

Which campaign were you involved with this summer?

I worked with the Light The Night and Team In Training campaigns which gave me the unique opportunity to learn about two different types programs. As a part of Light The Night, I had the chance to communicate with teams about fundraising goal setting and learn about the preparation involved for the Corporate Recruitment Event. As a part of Team In Training, I communicated regularly with coaches and volunteers, recruited volunteers for fundraising events, and had the chance to meet several TNT participants from when I attended our annual Too Hot To Handle event.

What would you consider the most valuable part of your internship?

While I learned a lot throughout this internship, the most valuable thing for me was that every time I came into the office, I was reminded that I was doing something to help someone who had been affected by blood cancer. Whether it was addressing thank you letters or helping to fill out grant applications, it always felt like I was making some sort of difference.

What skills will you take with you from this internship to utilize in your future endeavors?

Throughout this internship, I have had the chance to further develop my communication skills and to learn more about long-term event planning. With Light The Night, I was able to speak directly with team captains over the phone and help them with goal setting. I also sat in on a meeting about long-term planning for the LTN event and the kickoff events leading up to it. With Team In Training, I sent weekly updates to coaches and volunteers and had the opportunity to take the lead on recruiting volunteers for our Too Hot To Handle event. I loved being a part of these programs this summer and look forward to applying the skills as I continue in school next year.

* * * * * * *

We are currently seeking fall interns for both the Dallas and Fort Worth offices. Contact Alexis Meyer at Alexis.Meyer@lls.org to learn more about the available opportunities.  Find the job description and application info here. 

Meet Kristen Rheinlander

Kristen Rheinlander is the newest face that you will see when you come into our Fort Worth Office.  She is managing our Light The Night event in Fort Worth. Kristen has been personally affected by Leukemia and comes to LLS with a strong background in non profits. Below she answered a couple questions about herself:

1. Tell us about your nonprofit background.
I have been involved in numerous nonprofit organizations volunteering for The USO, Defenders of Freedom, Canine Companions for Independence and the Ronald McDonald House of both Fort Worth and Dallas. Volunteering, and now ultimately having my career in nonprofits, brings so much gratification and joy to my daily life. I am so fortunate to be able to help others on a daily basis and really makes every day at the office feel rewarding.


2. What attracted you to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

Leukemia has personally effected my family, and when the opportunity arose to work for an organization that is so strong within the Fort Worth Community, I knew my heart was with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society North Texas Chapter.


3. What do you think is so interesting about working with teams and individuals in a fundraising capacity?
I love that everyone VOLUNTEERS their time and money to such a worthy cause. As volunteers they have their own personal and unique reason to support our mission, yet the overwhelming goal to bring light to the darkness of cancer. While they could choose to look at cancer as such a dark and lonely space, they instead come together and inspire each other and become a light in each other’s lives.


4. What are you most looking forward to at the Light The Night Walk in Fort Worth?

I am excited to see the Fort Worth community come together and spread hope and joy to one another. While many of them will come as stranger, they all come together for one common mission, and I look forward to seeing friendships formed and fun being had throughout the night.


5. What do you want people to know about you?

I come from both a personal and professional background in sports, where I felt something was missing, so I turned my career to nonprofits. I have always had a heart for helping others and I look forward to making my passion my purpose in the fundraising sector of the nonprofit world. I am thrilled to work for such a worthy cause and can already tell The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will make my life and heart even that much greater.

You can find Kristen in and out of our Fort Worth office.  She can be reached via email at kristen.rheinlander@lls.org or phone at 817-288-2634.  Welcome to LLS!  We are so excited to have you on board.

Introducing Marla Wilson

The North Texas Chapter is proud to introduce you to Marla Wilson, the newest member of the chapter's leadership team.  Marla is the Senior Director responsible for the Light The Night Walk and the Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon & Fashion Show.  She comes to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) with extensive nonprofit experience.  Below she answered a couple questions about herself:

Tell us about your previous nonprofit experience. 
I come to LLS from Honey Shine, Inc. where I served as the National Executive Vice President.  Honey Shine, Inc. is a mentoring and educational program for school-age girls, based in Miami, FL.  Before Honey Shine, I served as a Senior Director with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Campaign, and the Executive Director for the March of Dimes.   I am also the founder of the 1 Percent Circle, an exclusive consulting group that matches high profile clients with mission-related initiatives.

I attribute my passion for service to my parents who taught me the importance of being a positive contributing citizen.

What drew you to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? 
The LLS mission and research success driven by this organization are very important to me.  I also have a couple personal connections to blood cancers.  I have a family member currently battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and another family member in treatment for lymphoma.

What have you learned about LLS supporters in North Texas during your brief time with LLS?
I have been very pleased to discover that North Texas supporters are very passionate and highly educated on the importance of philanthropy and volunteer leadership.

What are you most looking forward to with the Light The Night Walk? 
I am coming into Light The Night at a very exciting time.  The Dallas and Fort Worth Walks are both adding some really impactful new features to the Walk experience and both are on the brink of explosive growth.  I am happy to be here for both.

What are you most looking forward to with the Saint Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show? 
I am looking forward to expanding the exciting possibilities that will bridge generational philanthropy from traditional donors to young professionals.

Marla is the proud mother of twins, Malik and Mijani, both of whom are currently in college in Texas.

If you would like to personally welcome Marla to North Texas, she can be reached via email at marla.wilson@lls.org or phone at (972) 996-5919.

Welcome to North Texas, Marla!

Same Cause, New Experience

We are excited to extend a personal invitation to you and your family to join us at our 2017 North Texas Light The Night events.

This year we have enhanced our Walk events by incorporating captivating moments throughout the night including a powerful survivor ceremony, a peaceful and emotional remembrance pavilion and a grand finale firework show!

Survivors celebrate by carrying white lanterns and taking part in an inspiring survivor ceremony within the survivor circle while the white beam of hope reaches up to the sky illuminating the darkness.  

Supporters participate in the walk with their families and friends, in celebration of survivors and the strides we are making to find cures.  

Those we have lost are honored at the Remembrance Pavilion where family, friends, and co-workers can leave tributes to their loved ones. 

Please consider becoming involved by forming a Walk team or by simply attending the events.  When we walk, cancer runs. 

Mark your calendars for November 5th for our Fort Worth Walk and November 11th for our Dallas Walk. 

More details about Light The Night can be found at www.lightthenight.org/ntx. 

Light The Night By The Numbers

More than 8,000 people came together in Dallas and Fort Worth in October and November to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by blood cancer in North Texas. 

The Light The Night Walk is on its way to raising more than $1.41 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) thanks to the support of sponsors, teams, walkers, volunteers and more importantly, survivors! 

Here's a little breakdown of Light The Night by the numbers.

Number of Volunteers:

Dallas: 253

Fort Worth: 149

LLS Staff Members:

Dallas: 28

Fort Worth: 24

 

Lanterns:

3240  red 

1368  gold

360 white

T-shirts:

4835 Participant

420 Survivor

305 Volunteer

Batteries For The Lanterns:

9936

Number Of Tents:

Dallas: 44

Fort Worth: 25

Corporate Teams:

Dallas: 133

Fort Worth: 67

Friends and Family Teams

Dallas: 198

Fort Worth: 133

A huge THANK YOU to everyone involved with the Light The Night Walks this year. 

Meet Kamryn: Fort Worth Light The Night Honored Hero

 Kamryn was a fourteen year old, straight-A student and competitive cheerleader when she went to see the doctor because of mono-like symptoms.  Three days later, after several blood tests, doctors returned with a diagnosis of biphenotypic leukemia: a rare leukemia where both AML & ALL cells are present.  Please read on to hear Kamryn tell her story in her own words.  Kamryn is serving as our Honored Hero for the Fort Worth Light The Night Walk.

“I was diagnosed with Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia in November of 2014. I was a very healthy, active, and normal 14 year old girl before my diagnosis. I had just started my freshman year as a straight A student at Aledo High School. My whole life was cheerleading, school, and homework.  Around Thanksgiving, I went to the Doctor for mono like symptoms. I was feeling rundown, achy, and very  fatigued. They did blood work and on Monday afternoon my mom got a call from the doctor asking me to come to Cook Children’s Hospital. The next morning I went to the hospital and got the news that I had Leukemia.  I barely knew anything about what cancer was and had never met anyone battling it. My life was completely flipped upside down with no warning.

I was admitted to the hospital immediately and had a port surgically inserted to my chest along with a bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture the next morning. I began chemotherapy for ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) that night. I was in and out of the hospital for the next 6 months.  The treatment for AML is very aggressive and they hit it hard and fast for a total of 4 rounds of chemotherapy. I became very sick very fast.  After each round, it would take my immune system longer and longer to bounce back and as soon as it was safe, they would hit it again. The first round I was in the hospital for 40 straight days, spending Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's there.
Losing my hair was a very hard thing for me to deal with. While my friends were at Cowboys Stadium cheering on the Aledo Football Team to another State Championship, I was making the difficult decision to shave the remaining hair I had left.

Besides the 4 more rounds of chemo that I had to endure, I also developed Colitis which ended up with me having a feeding tube inserted surgically into my stomach. Then I suffered a life-threatening fungal infection due to my weakened immune system. This was in my calf muscle which led to a surgery where they took about 30% of my calf muscle.

It was a long, scary 9 months but my life is finally getting back to normal. I’m cancer free!  I’m tumbling again and back to focusing on school.   If it weren’t for the genetic testing advancements in the last couple of years, I would still be undergoing treatment for ALL. The chemo damaged my body and left me with “chemo brain”, a  fogginess that takes a while to go away. Gentler methods to treat cancer are needed now."

*****

Kamryn celebrated her 16th birthday and a year in remission. She has returned to cheerleading, is a Junior at Aledo High School and is now part of the Youth Advisory Counsel at Cook Children’s. Stories like Kamryn’s are far too common and her story could have ended very differently had she not received genetic testing to determine a better treatment plan.  Advancements such as these are crucial in the hunt for cures. Your participation in the Light The Night Walk and your commitment to raise funds on behalf of LLS plays a vital role in allowing LLS to continue investing in promising research.

Dallas Light The Night Honored Hero: Bennett Towbin

Bennett posing with Dallas Stars Center
Vern Fiddler before a game

The Light The Night Walk (LTN) to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) celebrates participants in all stages of a cancer battle - patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and family.  Each year the LTN team selects a couple honored heroes for each walk site to serve as inspiration.

Bennett Towbin is the embodiment of the expression - "don't underestimate the little things."  The North Texas Chapter first met Bennett and his family at the 2015 Dallas Light The Night when they walked under the team name "Don't Mess With Towbin."  The name couldn't be more fitting for this little guy.

In March 2014 he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at two-and-a-half years old.  Doctors went after this diagnosis with an aggressive treatment plan that put him into remission within the first month.  Now he is a year into the maintenance phase of his treatment regimen and will continue it through Summer 2017.  

Life is slowly returning back to normal for Bennett, despite the fact that he will be closely monitored by doctors for the next several years.  His family marvels at the strength and maturity Bennett showed during the initial phase of his treatment and knows he will finish out his maintenance phase with the same courage and determination.  

The North Texas Chapter is thrilled that "Don't Mess With Towbin" will be back at the 2016 Dallas Light The Night Walk at Trinity Groves.  Walk along side Bennett and other blood cancer survivors on Sunday, November 6th by registering today at www.lightthenight.org/ntx

Dallas Light The Night Honored Hero: Raina Stoescu

Raina Stroescu at the 2015 Dallas Light The Night Walk

The Light The Night Walk (LTN) to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) celebrates participants in all stages of a cancer battle - patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and family.  Each year the LTN team selects a couple honored heroes for each walk site to serve as inspiration.

Raina Stroescu is one of the 2016 honored heroes for the Dallas Mega Walk.  As you read her story, as told by her mother, you will see why she was chosen for this honor.  She is the embodiment of what an honored hero should be - determined, optimistic, dedicated, and selfless.

"Raina Elizabeth Stroescu was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma early stage 2A on July 30, 2015.  The following week, after undergoing a variety of tests and scans, the staging was confirmed and the course of treatment was set and presented to us by the assigned oncology team. She had her port implanted a few days after, giving herself the new name  “The Terminator”, never doubting that her cancer would be terminated.

And that’s exactly what she did with the help of her wonderful team of doctors and nurses.

In early August she began the difficult journey of healing, starting with two rounds of  chemotherapy,  infusions and prescriptions. While this journey was hard on her and us as parents, Raina nor we ever doubted that the outcome would be anything but positive.

Her first day entering a new high school where she was the “new “ girl was also the day she had to leave early to have her last chemotherapy session of her first round.  There were a lot of firsts and lasts that happened during that week.  Hair loss was a 50/50 possibility and by the end of that week it was evident that she would lose her hair. Again in this moment Raina overcame her fears and dealt with this challenge as she had with all of the diagnosis, in an amazingly positive and confident manner, even throwing in some of her great sense of humor, naming her new wig “Lizzie” …yes she named her wig.  She went to school with a new look, her head held up high and bearing her same familiar smile and positive attitude.

This  amazing attitude, mental toughness and her faith carried her all the way through the second round of chemotherapy.  She continued to go to school and practice with her club soccer team as much as possible on the days she felt good and had enough energy. She even tried out for her high school varsity soccer team as a freshman and ultimately made the team.

Our amazing daughter set an outstanding example for all those around her on how to manage challenges.  Her teammates and friends saw her without her long hair wearing only a Nike headband on her head and saw her JUST DO IT. Her classmates saw her attend class and stick with her projects as best she could.

In October after her chemotherapy ended she had her scans again to find out if the cancer was gone. The chemo worked and thankfully the scans showed no signs of cancer.  Her treatment protocol required follow up with low-dose localized radiation therapy to her neck and upper chest area to ensure that even the tiniest cancer cells that may have been missed by the recent scans after chemotherapy were completely “terminated”.  Radiation was not painful for her but rather time consuming and involved some long-term risks that had to be considered. However, all of us felt very confident in the competency and ability of our excellent medical team at UT Southwestern and getting over this final hurdle.  She completed the radiation treatment plan mid-November right after her 15^th birthday and just in time for a great and very special Thanksgiving celebration.

Raina was asked by her former elementary school to be their honored hero to launch their Pasta for Pennies campaign for LLS. She presented a speech to the school, parents and faculty that day bringing tears to our eyes as she said to them,  “Don’t let your challenges control you. Take control of your challenges”.

Another awesome event was coordinated with her Sting Soccer club team and church youth group as they formed Team Raina to walk in the 2015 Light the Night Walk supporting LLS.

These events were definite highlights as they both raised awareness, especially among her peers, giving Raina the opportunity to share her story of hope.

We are extremely blessed and grateful Raina is cancer free today.  Neither her or us could have gone through this difficult time without great support from family and friends and a wonderfully compassionate medical team…making all the difference in our world.

Raina will be on a maintenance plan of doctor visits, scans and checkups for the next several years but she will keep on shining her loving light as she has since she was born."

Inspired by Raina?  Consider walking alongside her on Sunday, November 6th at the Dallas Mega Walk at Trinity Groves.  Registration is now open.

Dallas Light The Night Memorial Hero: Doug Campbell

Doug Campbell's remarkable life is honored at the 2015 Light
The Night Walk with a gold ribbon at the LLS Mission Tent

The Dallas 2016 Light The Night Memorial Hero is a North Texas man who led a remarkable life despite living in the shadow of an incurable blood cancer.  Doug's story continues to inspire and motivate the people who had the chance to hear him share his struggle and his joy for life in person.  This past September, Douglas M. Campbell, Ph.D., age 52, lost his 15-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Doug was many things - a repeat Team In Training athlete, Light The Night participant, Mission Task Force co-chair, cancer advocate, inspiring honored hero, champion volunteer, scientist and friend,  but the role he was most proud of was that of a loving husband and father to his three beautiful girls.  He often cited his family as his motivation to not only fight to survive his disease and its side effects, but to live life to its fullest. He noted his top goals were to see his daughters graduate from high school, then college, one day walk them down the aisle and maybe even meet his grandchildren.  He did see his oldest daughter graduate and go on to study chemistry like her dad. Unfortunately, he passed away just shy of seeing his second child graduate this year and will most certainly be there in spirit for the many future milestones his girls will reach.

His wife, Stacey, and their three daughters are continuing what their family began when Doug was first diagnosed in 2000.  They are steadfast in their dedication to helping fulfill the LLS vision of a world without blood cancers and registered their Walkers for Hope team for the 2016 Light The Night Walk, the family’s 16th consecutive Light the Night Walk, setting a goal of raising $100,000 in Doug's memory.

The $100,000 fundraising goal is significant to the Campbell family because that will allow them to name a LLS research grant in Doug's honor. “The cure is out there. As a gifted chemist, Doug was always about the research and the science. It seems only fitting to set this goal to memorialize Doug Campbell's intellect, courage, strength and pure will to live life well every day of his 15- year battle. Our hope is to get us one step closer to saving another daddy from leaving his girls too soon.” shares Stacey.
We are honored to have Doug Campbell serve as the 2016 Memorial Hero for the Dallas Mega Walk. We could not think of a more deserving representative for the work still to be done.  Inspired by Doug's story?  You can register to participate in the upcoming Walks by registering at www.lightthenight.org/ntx

Light The Night T-Shirt Competition

The 2016 Light The Night t-shirt competition starts today!  The North Texas Chapter is honored to be home to a past t-shirt design winner as well as a finalist and we would love to have another finalist from our area this year.  The winning entry will be on the front of hundreds of thousands of participant and survivor t-shirts at walk sites across the country this fall!

Below are the submission guidelines:

• Design must be inspired by the Light The Night Walk (LTN) or the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
• Design only the front of a plain t-shirt
• Must visibly and clearly include the LLS/LTN logo lockup (example below)
• Up to three different designs will be accepted, but they must be submitted as separate entries
• Design must be wholly original

A full list of submission guidelines can be found here.   Once your design is completed, submit your artwork online here.

Designs will be judged on the following criteria:

• Concept/originality
• Captures the spirit of the LTN Walk
• Striking and memorable design
• Eye-catching and visible from a reasonable distance
• Completeness of design - must be ready for print

Additional information about design specifications can be found here. 

All designs but be submitted by 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, March 18th on the LTN Facebook page.

There are two rounds of voting.  During the first round, two designs will be chosen by a panel of LLS staff.  The two winning designs will then be posted on the Light The Night Facebook page where page fans can vote online.  The design with the most number of votes will be selected.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact your local staff at (972) 996-5926.

Our fingers are crossed for another North Texas finalist! 

Mark Your Calendars: 2016 is a Busy Year

2016 is off to a fast start for the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  Grab your calendars and jot down a couple key dates that are coming up in the next couple weeks and months.

Big D Climb

Saturday, January 30th

Dallas

Light The Night
Registration Opens

February 4, 2016

North Texas

Team In Training SPRUMMER Kickoff
Saturday, February 6th

Dallas

Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon & Fashion Show

Tuesday, February 16th

Dallas

LLS/Chipotle Benefit Day

Thursday, February 18th

Texas-wide

Student of the Year Kickoff

February 28th

Dallas

Student of the Year Grand Finale
April 2nd

Dallas

Man & Woman of the Year Kickoff
April 12th

Dallas

Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale

June 18th

Dallas

Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament
Monday, June 27th
TPC Four Seasons Golf Course

Blood Cancer Awareness Month
September 1-30th
Nationwide

North Texas Blood Cancer Conference & Expo

September 9-10th

Dallas

North Texas Giving Day
September 22, 2016
Online

Light The Night - Fort Worth
October 30th
Fort Worth

Light The Night - Dallas
November 6
Dallas

Rituxan: Another Use Outside of Blood Cancers

Sami Schwendeman, the Light The Night Manager in Fort Worth, has worked for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for two years.  She is driven by the patients the organization serves and the research that LLS funds.  Read below about how a recent discovery about her mom's battle with rheumatoid arthritis reinvigorated her passion for the LLS mission.

"My mom has had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for nearly two decades. When she was first diagnosed, she was forced to stop her active lifestyle because of the pain and side effects of this chronic inflammatory disorder.  Recently, I discovered that RA and blood cancer are related.  Here's how.. 

A little over 10 years ago my mom joined a clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The trial gave patients an infusion of a medication called Rituxan to treat their RA.  After several infusions of Rituxan, my mom’s joints were less swollen, she didn’t cringe when she stood up out of bed, her wedding band fit over her knuckles again...the infusions worked and the FDA approved Rituxan as a treatment for RA in 2006. Fast forward to now, my mom still gets Rituxan infusions to keep her RA in check and will continue to do so.  How is this related to LLS? In the early 1990s LLS funded research for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treatments. The drug that was eventually approved with the help of LLS funding was called rituximab, aka, Rituxan. Rituxan was initially approved as a therapy for NHL, CLL, and other b-cell lymphomas.  It later proved to be effective in the treatments of multiple other cancers in addition to RA.

This is not an uncommon trend - 40% of cancer treatments in the past decade were initially approved as blood cancer treatments.  The more than $1 billion invested in research by LLS has gone on to impact the treatment of breast, prostate, skin, colon and many other cancers as well as arthritis and Alzheimer's, and is being tested for treatment of HIV, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. LLS is funding critical research, not just for blood cancers, but for all cancers and other diseases.

The mission of LLS is to find a cure for blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families - a mission I am extremely passionate about. Who could have guessed that the treatment that would make my mom feel good again would have started as a blood cancer treatment? Talk about coming full circle!"

Meet The Man Behind the Camera

Meet Mark Lenz.  He's the man behind the camera at a number of events for the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  If you have ever looked at the pictures after a race, walk or climb and felt like you were there; it's because Mark's creativity behind the lens captures the essence of the event and the teams participating.  He is a longtime member of the North Texas Board of Trustees and also serves on the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament committee.

Tell us about your history with LLS in North Texas.

My friend, Jim Willis, was diagnosed with leukemia in the mid 1990s and I played in the first Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament that he started with fellow blood cancer patient Bob Barker in 1997.  Bob is still with us, but Jim is not.  I stay involved to support Bob, who has fought the good fight and still is doing so.  After volunteering on the golf committee for years, I was approached to join the board of trustees and have been involved with the board since 2002.

Since I started volunteering with LLS in 1997, I have experienced blood cancers in my extended family.  My cousin’s daughter passed away at the age of nine, just after starting treatment for her blood cancer and another cousin has chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Participation with LLS has become a family affair.  Tell us more about that.

My father has participated in the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament for many years and has encouraged his friends to get involved.  My wife, Patti, has participated in or volunteered in several events over the years, including many years in the School and Youth program when our children were still in school.  My son, Brian, has volunteered at the golf tournament several times and has participated in the Big D Climb.

What makes photographing LLS events so challenging?

There is so much going on and trying to find something that tells the story amidst all of the chaos is the challenge.  The group shots and the actual event shots are always part of what I do, but finding something special that says why we raise money to fight the fight without needing words is what I try to look for.  And it is not always there or easy to find in a large group of people.

Rewarding?

Being able to interact with participants in the events and learn their stories, even if just briefly, and thanking them for their participation since they take time out of their schedules to be there instead of doing something else.  Hopefully I can take shots that they will share with their friends and family to show what we do and maybe get more participants the next time, or shots that the LLS can use to market what we do in a more productive way.

Which are your favorite pictures from events?

Photos that tell a story without words, like the photo of the boy with the tag saying I am walking for my mommy from Fort Worth Light The Night Walk a few years ago, or the boy with white lantern on his father’s shoulders in Fort Worth a couple weeks ago.  (White lanterns are carried by survivors, red by supporters and gold in honor of those who have lost their battle with a blood cancer.)  Otherwise, it is groups or individuals that really show they back the cause, because of what they are wearing, or a sign created for the event, or just how they act.

You can see more of Mark's photos on our Facebook page.  Like us today and follow along with Mark's incredible work.

Heather Laraba Joins Light The Night

The North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is thrilled to introduce its newest addition to the Light The Night department.  Meet Heather Laraba.  She is joining LTN as a campaign specialist and will be working out of the Dallas office.  Read below as this dynamic woman introduces herself.

"I grew up in Richardson, TX. I have danced competitively since I was 11 years old. My immediate family still resides within the Dallas metroplex. 

My life growing up revolved around dance classes and dance competitions. When I started high school I was a part of the drill team and by my senior year I was lucky enough to be named Captain of the team. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer as I was starting my senior year of high school.  In order to honor her and our relationship my senior year solo was in her honor.

I went to the great state of Oklahoma where I attended the University of Oklahoma in good ol' Norman. I fell in love with the campus and with the people I met during my four years there. I was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority where I then participated in committees for events & fundraisers on campus such as: Relay for Life, Soonerathon, the Women's Outreach Center, and last but not least Young Life College.

Young Life is a 'youth ministry' (in loose terms) that changed my life starting in high school up into college. I went through training my sophomore year of college and was placed on the brand new ministry team known as Young Life College. I spent the rest of my college experience going where college girls go and being a part of their lives at OU. I took donuts, cookie cakes, and Starbucks to the dorms and had incredible relationships with a group of girls I mentored each of those three years. I was lucky enough to be given the head leader position and eventually worked part time as Norman's Young Life College staff associate my senior year. I continued to dance with the student led Sooner Dance Company and served as their Service Chair and then Vice President my final year.

I've been given incredible opportunities in such a short, sweet amount of time and have built and maintained incredible relationships. I'm now IMMENSELY proud and happy to say that I have joined a new family with all new traditions within LLS. Thank you for welcoming me in and I can't wait to start changing lives with you all.

The weird stuff:

1) I am allergic to apples.

2) I am obsessed with the Justins (Bieber & Timberlake)

3) I LOVE podcasts about social and criminal justice

4) I love to read and watch documentaries on Netflix

5) I finished all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls within the span of 3 weeks

6.) I plan to train and run in my FIRST Team in Training event in June at the Wounded Warrior half marathon"

We are happy to have Heather as part of the North Texas Light The Night family.  Reach out and introduce yourself.  She can be contacted at Heather.Laraba@lls.org or (972) 996-5934.  

Blood Cancer Awareness Month in North Texas

Looking to get involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) during Blood Cancer Awareness Month?  Several North Texas businesses and organizations have created opportunities for you to shop and give back to LLS at the same time.  Check out our retail and third party partners, please visit them and thank them for helping to create a world without blood cancers.  

Beach Volleyball Tournament:

Gallagher's 2015 Beach Blast

Beach Volleyball Tournament
Friday, September 25th

http://www.ajg.com/dallas-beach-blast/

Percentage Days:

Charming Charlie
Saturday, September 19th
Firewheel Location

Paper Balloon Sale Locations
Burlington
Calvin Klein

Great American Cookies
IZOD

Marble Slab Creamery

Pretzelmaker
Tommy Hilfiger

Van Heusen

Light The Night T-Shirt Competition: A Finalist from Frisco

Meet Cory, a junior and first year graphic design student at the Frisco ISD Career & Technical Education Center.  He is one of three finalists in the national Light The Night (LTN) t-shirt design competition for the 2015 walks.  Voting is now open and if Cory's design is selected, it will be featured on the front of millions of shirts across the United States during the upcoming Light The Night season.

Cory came up with the design above after watching this Light The Night video and checking out the winning t-shirt design from last year.  (A student at a Frisco ISD school won the Light The Night t-shirt design competition in 2014.)  He was struck with an idea - each of the symbols incorporated into the Light The Night Walks are present in everybody,  That is when he created the quote, "There's a survivor, a memory and a supporter in us all."

Cory is supportive of the work of  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as he has first-hand experience with cancer.  He has lost several members of his family to the disease and playing a part in the race to find a cure is very personal to him.

Cast your vote to support Cory's design in the national competition by clicking here.  Voting will remain open until Thursday, March 29th.  Learn more about the North Texas Light The Night Walks and get your team registered today by visiting our website: www.lightthenight.org/ntx

Light The Night: Meet Team Smile

The North Texas Light The Night Walks (LTN) are filled with inspiring teams, incredible stories and motivated fundraisers.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) feels that it is important to highlight some of the teams that made a real impact this year.

Team Smile was created by Christine Hopkins, DDS., MS. several years ago.  She organized the team after a close family member was diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of lymphoma.  Dr. Hopkins felt that creating a team and fundraising for LLS through the LTN Walk was a way to show her support of her family member's fight.  Below she answers some questions about the event.

Tell us about the team you put together for the 2014 Light The Night Walk?  

Our team is composed of my staff from the office, patients from the office, and other dental colleague and families and friends. We have typically 30 to 40 walkers every year, which we are very proud of.  For our patients, this also serves as a opportunity to get them to be involve in a charity event.  We have patients comment on how nice it is that we have a team and they can just join instead of looking for a team.  As for the office, this is a once a year, charity event that we dedicated to,  It is team bonding and it feels great to work together to fundraise and be involved as a team. 

What was your favorite part (or parts) of the evening?  

The walk is a beautiful event.  It is so beautiful with the lighted lanterns.  My favorite part is that I know that we have support from our family and friends, we have fun, and we support our love ones.  It is just wonderful!  It is also wonderful to see other cancer patients/families who are going through the same things and who had survived.  It gives me hope for my own family.

What would you tell other people considering walking in the Light The Night Walk next year?  

This is the best walk and charity to support.  It is family friendly.  Children can participate with ease.  I love to bring my children, they are 11 and 8.  They love the balloons, and they started walking with me when my youngest was 6.  It is also a great way to get kids involved when they are little, to help them to have a life-long appreciation of doing a good deed for others, and life is not only for themselves.  We live for other people instead of just us. 

Why do you support LLS and its goal of creating a world without blood cancers?  

I do not want any other families to suffer as we do.  It is tough to know that one of your loved one has a disease that is not curable.  Blood cancers affect people of all ages.  We need to stop this.

Light The Night: Team Texas Oncology

The North Texas Light The Night Walks (LTN) are filled with inspiring teams, incredible stories and motivated fundraisers.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) feels that it is important to highlight some of the teams that made a real impact this year.

Texas Oncology Fort Worth is a longtime supporter of LLS, our patients and the Light The Night Walk.  This year the 16-person team raised nearly $3,300 before and during the event for LLS and its goal to create a world without blood cancers.

Pattie and Lori, co-captains of Team Texas Oncology Fort Worth, answered a couple questions about their team and its motivation to participate.

Why did you create a team to participate in the 2014 Light The Night Walk?
To fundraise for a charity that gives directly back to the patients that we serve.

Tell us about your walk experience.
The walk was wonderful.  It was perfect weather to take a walk through Trinity Park.  What an awesome sight it was to see all the red, gold and white lanterns illuminating our way.  It is truly something to see.

How did your company/employees benefit from this event?
All coming together for one purpose - to give back to our patients.

What was your favorite part/parts of the event?
Being able to interact with fellow employees and patients with their families outside of the clinic setting.

Team Texas Oncology Fort Worth was one of several medical facilities that participated in the 2014 Light The Night Walks that helped to raise more than $1.3 million in North Texas alone.  Thank you to all who supported the event.