Encourages The Community to Help a Good Cause
February 19, 2009 – The Massachusetts Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recently named Gary Rome of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke chair of its 2009 Northampton Light The Night® Walk, the LLS annual fundraising event held each fall to raise money for cancer research and patient services.
LLS holds walks each fall in approximately 230 communities across the United States and Canada. Participants at the walks carry illuminated balloons – white for survivors, red for supporters, and gold for those walking “in memory” – to honor and commemorate lives touched by blood cancer. This year’s Northampton Light The Night Walk will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Look Memorial Park in Northampton, MA.
“Light The Night is a great way to build a spirit of caring and cooperation among employees as they help others,” said Gary Rome “I am honored to serve as the chair and I look forward to encouraging commitment from local businesses and members of the community.”
Mr. Rome and his staff at Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke participated in the 2008 Northampton Light The Night event. The car dealership formed a team, captained by Cliff Dexheimer, General Sales Manager for the retail location, and raised over $5,000 for LLS. The team also brought along their Hyundai Hope on Wheels Santa Fe vehicle. In 1998, Hyundai Motorcars of America founded their own independent nonprofit called Hyundai Hope on Wheels, an organization dedicated to funding research of childhood cancers. In Northampton this past fall, Mr. Rome’s Hope on Wheels vehicle was ceremoniously decorated with handprints of local childhood cancer survivors in celebration of their strength, courage and perseverance. In addition to serving as Walk Chair in 2009, Mr. Rome will once again be bringing the Hope on Wheels vehicle to the event.
The funds raised through corporate and individual contributions help to find cures and better therapies for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to provide information, education and support for patients and their families.
“Light The Night Walk gives hope to patients and their families and lets them know they are not alone in their battle against cancer,” said Sharon Klein, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chapter.
To find out more about forming a team or participating in a Light The Night walk, contact the Massachusetts Chapter’s Light The Night Staff at 508-810-1342 or online at www.lightthenight.org/ma.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.
