Story and photos by Kashyah Williams

Every year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society hosts a Light the Night Walk  to raise funds.The walk takes place at Delaware Park, which is located on 300 Parkside Avenue in Buffalo, NY. According to the website, the mission of the foundation is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

The process to participate in the walk is simple. On the Light the Night website, one can register as an individual, club, or organization. The group or individual is encouraged to fundraise money by asking for donations via social media or word of mouth to friends and family. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society raised $357,496 of their $600,000 goal.

The Great Expectations Club participates in the Light the Night walk annually as part of giving back to the community. This act reflects one of Hilbert’s core Franciscan values: service. Service in the Franciscan tradition means to give back or help someone in need. By participating in this walk, the club assisted in raising funds to find the cure for several diseases.

This year, the walk took place on Friday, September 22. As we were walking, we observed some survivors of leukemia. Their shirts were labeled “Survivor.” As the walk began, we saw many taking pictures of themselves with their lanterns.

It is a big night for the city to come together in a time of loss, but also hope. There were not only people in attendance, but also many friendly dogs participating in the walk as well. As people made their way around the big circle, cars from the approaching traffic beeped as a way of supporting the cause.

The overall experience of the Light the Night Walk always is heartfelt. One can more than likely relate to losing a loved one from the disease, and so they walk as a way of supporting the cause and to honor and remember those who have passed.