Downtown to host cancer walk

By: Christine Robertson

Posted: 9/17/08

Red and white balloons will illuminate Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse tonight.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will host its annual Light the Night Walk, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Walkers supporting those diagnosed with blood cancer will carry red balloons, and those who have survived or are still fighting against the disease will carry white balloons. Each balloon will have a light inside.

More than 1,000 people are expected at the event, including student groups from Syracuse University, said Kristin Hennessey, campaign manager for the Central New York LLS chapter.

"Based on registration, we're looking at our biggest walk ever," she said. "It doesn't hurt any that it's supposed to be a beautiful night."

While it is the 10th anniversary for the national walk, it is the ninth anniversary for the city of Syracuse. SU has been a part of the event for seven of those years, said Barbara Stivenson, an administrative specialist from SU's Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service.

"We started with 10 people," Stivenson said. "And there was one year we had 300."

Stivenson said she hopes the free transportation from College Place and Schine Student Center will be a draw for SU participants. Registration begins at 5 p.m.

This is a special year for the event, Stivenson said, because of the Ernie Davis movie, "The Express," and its surrounding events. Davis died at age 23 after losing his battle to leukemia. SU honored him with a statue in front of the Physics Building, and the new residence hall on Comstock Avenue will be named after Davis.

Stivenson, who became involved with the LLS after learning of the diagnosis of a co-worker's wife, has worked to maintain SU's involvement in the walk.

"We're doing grassroots efforts here," she said. "We need someone to help pay for the buses or get the pizza or get the water we give away to the walkers."

The Light the Night event is about more than just raising money, Stivenson said, it is also about raising awareness.

"We're all in this together," she said. "It's a team effort, and we want to put these terrible diseases out of business."

carobe04@syr.edu