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Lange To Serve As "Honorary Walk Chair" For Light The Night Walk

Walk to take place on Sunday, Sept. 28 in Annapolis.

	Billy Lange will be the "Light the Night" Walk's Honorary walk chair on Sept. 28, in Annapolis.

June 23, 2008

Light The Night Website

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Light The Night Walk is excited to announce that Billy Lange, Navy head men's basketball coach will be serving as the Walk's "Honorary Walk Chair". Coach Lange has teamed up with Light The Night to help raise awareness and funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the world's largest and fastest growing voluntary health organization concerned solely with funding research for cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the society has provided more than $500 million for research that specifically targets blood cancers.

"The Navy basketball family was hit last year by leukemia, as Justin Livezey's (strength coach) wife, Brandy, was diagnosed with leukemia in late June of 2007. She has been such a fighter against the disease and has been given a clean bill of health,"?said Lange. "It affects everyone. Brandy came to me and asked if I?would be interested in doing this and I?had no second thoughts. I?was honored that she would ask me and please that we can help such a terrific cause. It is our team's way of showing respect to Brandy and to everyone who has been affected by leukemia. We are excited to be a part of it and are really looking forward to the walk."

"Light The Night" is the society's nationwide evening walk to commemorate and celebrate lives touched by cancer. Participants carry illuminated red, white, and gold balloons as they walk. The parade of flickering lit balloons create a breathtaking sight and spirit of fellowship among all who carry them. All cancer survivors hold white balloons, while supporters of our mission carry red balloons. The gold balloons are held in memory of those who have lost their battles.

Light The Night is coming back to Annapolis for a third year of walking in Maryland's Capitol. Though walks have been held throughout Maryland since 1999, this is only the third year for LLS's annual evening Walk to be held in Annapolis. It will take place on Sunday, September 28, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 5:00 pm with a 1.2-mile stroll down Rowe Blvd to Church Circle, and back. Pre and post-walk celebrations will feature live music, food and family entertainment.

The Annapolis community has continued to surprise and overwhelm everyone associated with LLS by its generosity, and continually raising more then expected. In just two years, the Annapolis community has raised over $311,000 for LLS's mission (to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families) and has quickly become Maryland's largest Light The Night Walk. Marylanders have raised more than $3,000,000 overall for the mission since 1999.

This year, the walk is expecting a crowd of 800 - 1,000 people forming 60 teams of walkers at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and the walk is expected to raise more than $200,000. The walk is open to all ages and individual walkers, families, and companies are invited to form teams to walk in this evening event. There is no registration fee, but those raising $100 or more will receive a Light The Night T-Shirt. In addition, dedication banners will be displayed to give everyone an opportunity to place a name or message on the banner in honor of, or in memory of, a family member or friend with cancer. Participants will also be awarded a variety of prizes based on their total fundraising efforts.

For additional information on sponsoring or participating in the Light The Night Walk, please contact Katie Smith at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Maryland Chapter 410.527.0220 ext. 18, katie.smith@lls.org, or visit www.lightthenight.org.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest and fastest growing voluntary health organization concerned solely with funding research for cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, The Society has provided more than $500 million for research that specifically targets blood cancers. More than 75 percent of every dollar raised goes directly toward our mission.

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