National Movement to Support Cancer Patients and Survivors Kicks off on June 13
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(Rye Brook, NY, June 8, 2017) – Renowned author and pop culture observer Scott Adams once said “there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is out to prove the benefit of everyday kindness, with the national launch of Random Acts of Light Day, set for June 13.
The first Random Acts of Light Day is a new initiative of LLS’s flagship fundraising campaign, Light The Night (www.LightTheNight.org), and is meant to inspire a movement to help bring light to the darkness of cancer. Piloted in fall 2016, Random Acts of Light features celebrities in surprise meetings with fans who are blood cancer patients and survivors, to lift their spirits and showcase LLS’s role as an advocate for blood cancer patients and families. Random Acts of Light Day will create awareness and educate the public about the critical need to fund research to find cures for blood cancer patients, and ensure they have access to lifesaving treatments.
“Today, 1.3 million patients in the U.S. are living with a blood cancer and every three minutes a new patient is diagnosed. Along with the lighted lanterns seen across the country during Light The Night Walk season each fall, Random Acts of Light will occur all over the country and reach cancer patients all year long, to show them that LLS is unapologetically patients first,” said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., LLS President and Chief Executive Officer. "National Random Acts of Light Day will serve as an annual reminder of our goal to create a world without blood cancers, one patient at a time.”
To kick off the inaugural Random Acts of Light Day, “Nashville” star and this year’s CMT Music Awards host, actor and singer Charles Esten, surprised 19-year-old blood cancer survivor, Jordan Smith of Nashville, TN. Jordan was invited for a sneak preview of Esten’s rehearsal for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the CMT Music Awards, and the chance to talk to Esten about his music, his upcoming tour and, how she, inspired by her own cancer journey, will be attending nursing school this fall. Jordan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2012, the same type of leukemia Esten’s daughter Addie was diagnosed with at age two and a half. At the end of Jordan’s visit with Esten, he surprised her with tickets to the live taping of the CMT Music Awards on June 7.
“When someone you love hears the words, ‘You have cancer’ it’s one of the darkest moments of your life,” Esten said. “Being able to surprise Jordan with a Random Act of Light was an unforgettable moment. She has such a positive spirit and a kind heart. Jordan definitely brings light to the darkness of cancer!”
How to get involved
Bring light to someone you know who has been touched by cancer on National Random Acts of Light Day. This can be any random act, big or small:
- Surprise someone at the hospital with a meal, gift certificate or kind gesture
- Gift a cancer patient or survivor tickets to a sporting event, or gear from their favorite team
- Treat a local survivor or patient to a manicure, pedicure or massage
- Take a cancer patient or survivor out for coffee, ice cream, breakfast, lunch or dinner
Post about National Random Acts of Light Day on June 13, and throughout the year, and tag #RandomActsofLight on either Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Ideas for posts:
- Pictures of recipients as they’re being surprised by the random act
- Candid or posed group pictures of everyone enjoying the random act
- Images of features that make the random act special
- Captions that describe the scene, tagging the location, other people involved, as well as Light The Night on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
- Ask others to join in to perform their own Random Act of Light, and tag #RandomActsofLight on their social channels
150 Light The Night Walks take place across North America each fall; approximately one million walk participants carry illuminated lanterns – white in honor of survivors and the power of research, red in support of patients and finding cures, and gold in remembrance of those who have been lost.
For more information on Random Acts of Light visit http://www.lightthenight.org/ways/random-acts-light.
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, multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Contact: Linda Heaney
(914) 821-8208
