Peoples Gas Hosts Light The Night Walk to Support The Fight Against Leukemia and Lymphoma
By Layla Joseph
Peoples Gas has teamed up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Oct. 12 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. to host the annual Light the Night Walk starting at Acrisure Stadium.
This event brings light to the darkness of cancer by celebrating, honoring and remembering those who have fought or are fighting the blood cancer battle in the Pittsburgh community.
The walk brings awareness and funds to LLS while providing participants with a night full of movement, community and illuminating lanterns along the North Shore.
Different color lanterns will be given to participants to signify those who are walking to celebrate their victory as a survivor, in memorial of a loved one or in support of community members that have been impacted.
According to Peoples’ Fundraising Page, funds raised through the Light the Night Walk will fund treatments for patients suffering from various blood cancers, furthering LLS’s goal to advance blood cancer treatment approval by the FDA.
Peoples Gas Community Affairs and Corporate Giving Specialist Julia Homa said LLS is one of the many nonprofit organizations that Peoples Gas partners with as the company strives to diversify their funds to help deserving nonprofits.
“I’m fortunate enough to work at a place where our people believe in and have been touched by the causes we support,” she said. “We just don’t give money to give money– it’s much more than that.”
Homa said that LLS’s Light the Night Walk is special to many people within the company because of its impact on several employees and their families at Peoples Gas.
All ages are welcome to walk the short route on the North Shore, and registration is available online now. The cost of registration is whatever you can afford to give, and Homa said any amount helps further the mission.
“Any gift of any size makes a difference,” she said. “Even if you’re not able to give hundreds of dollars, a gift of any amount is getting us closer to a cure for blood cancers. Everything counts in the grand scheme of things.”
Homa said that, really, this event is about supporting the community.
“People have hope,” she said. “People can look around and see that there is a whole community of support joining together to make a difference in the life-saving work that LLS is a part of. I am proud to stand with our community and help to make a difference.”