By Monique Larkin
A SEA OF RED AND WHITE
By Monique Larkin
Transference of feeling can take place when one event or situation can capture someone for an entire lifetime.
Whether or not if that means that they can empathize with a person, but sympathy and gratitude in just being alive and healthy was more likely the aura that was exuded for every individual who participated in the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, “Light the Night,” that took place Oct. 8.Chilly breezes swept the fall night that was filled with light as over 500 participants walked a mile around the campus of UC Riverside.
For those individuals who had cancer carried white-lighted balloons, while those individuals in support of the victims and patients who have blood cancer held red-lighted balloons.
Stan Morrison, UCR athletic coordinator, reflected on his own fight with lymphoma and noted that every five minutes someone out there is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see the night filled with a sea of red and white balloons,” Morrison said. “I am forever grateful to causes that support and continue to support people like me.”
The night was a time for reflection of those who had lost the fight against the cancer and in gratitude to those individuals who had walked to support those foundations that are right now, at this moment, trying to find a cure for blood cancer like lymphoma and leukemia.
Shandrika Wilson, was one of those individuals there that night. She like the rest or her family was walking in the memory of her mother. As she spoke through tears, she said that she was grateful that so many people were in support of the walk.
“We proudly held the balloons that supported my mother before she died,” Wilson said. “We now proudly hold the balloons tonight, in honor of her.”
Before the walk several children glowed with happiness as they performed cartwheels in the grass. These same children during the walk had faces overflowing with smiles that seemed to light up the night maybe even more than the lite balloons that they carried did.
However, these same children might be the next victims to a blood cancer, and that is why the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society sponsors such walks as “Light the Night,” in order to prevent children suffering from the agony of cancer.
One of these children may be like 24-month-old Matilda, for whom Karen Mitchell walks in support. Mitchell is a child psychologist.
“This is my fifth year participating, and I continue to love it every year, “Mitchell said.
All proceeds that were generated from the walk are donated to research in order to find a cure for blood cancers, donated to families who are supporting loved ones with the cancer and to fund the treatment of blood cancer patients.
