About Light The Night
At The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night we gather as a community to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by blood cancers. Friends, families, schools, corporate teams, and sponsors join together to bring light to the darkness of cancer. The funds raised by this community fund lifesaving research, advocacy and support for blood cancer patients and their families. Join us in the fight to cure cancer!
It is highly recommended that all blood cancer patients or other immunocompromised individuals check with their healthcare provider before attending this event. Research conducted by LLS and others has shown that some blood cancer patients do not get optimal protection from COVID-19 vaccination and may continue to have heightened susceptibility to contracting and becoming ill from COVID-19. While at the event, we urge our community to respect anyone’s choice to continue to take precautions like masking or social distancing.
There will also be a virtual event experience provided for any participants who would prefer to not join us in-person, held in November. Details to come in emails to all registered participants in early November.
IN-PERSON EVENT
Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Location: Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 2285 S 67th St, Omaha, NE 68106
Parking: Free public parking available in various Aksarben Village parking garages
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
5:30 PM – Festival Activities Begin
7:30 PM – Opening Ceremony
7:45 PM – Walk Begins (immediately after Opening Ceremony)
8:15 PM - Fireworks Show (immediately after Walk)
OTHER FAQS
How long is the walk? The walk is approximately one mile (3 laps around Stinson Park).
Will there be food? Yes! Local food vendors including Javi's Tacos, Pulled BBQ Omaha, The Corndog Company and Kona Ice will be on-site for food/beverage purchase. We encourage all participants to bring lawn chairs and coolers. Free bottled water will be provided at the Hydration Station.
What if there is weather on event day? The in-person event is rain or shine.
Are dogs allowed? Friendly leashed dogs are welcome.
Can participants turn in donations at the event? The Light The Night walk will only be accepting checks and credit card donations at the walk. Cash will not be accepted on-site. Credit or debit card donations can be made through the mobile app. Please try to donate online through your fundraising page, the app, or the website.
Is the event appropriate for children? Yes! Light The Night is a multi-generational event! The Kids Zone will feature face painting, balloon twisting, inflatable obstacle course, button making, poster decorating, kids games and activities.
How/where can I pick up a lantern? All registered participants receive a lantern to be picked up at the Lantern Tent at the walk.
How do I register? Visit https://www.lightthenight.org/events/omaha or contact Tracy Fisher at tracy.fisher@lls.org.
Do all guests receive a t-shirt? All registered participants who raise $100+ will receive a t-shirt that can be picked up at the walk.
Are there Incentives for reaching fundraising milestones? Yes! There are a ton of fun incentives you can achieve for your fundraising including:
$100 - Become a Champion for a Cure (t-shirt)
$1,000 - Become a Bright Light (t-shirt and VIP Tent Tickets)
$5,000 - Earn a 10 x 10 Team Tent in the Top Teams Area
We’re so grateful & excited to have you join us. Together, the Nebraska community will Light The Night for patients, survivors, caregivers, and all those touched by blood cancers.
Your Light The Night Team
We acknowledge some participants might need ADA accommodations. We do our best to provide these accommodations at every location, however, depending on weather and venues, it may be difficult for participants using wheelchairs to move freely around all areas of specific walk sites. If you have questions or need support, please call us at 888-557-7177 in advance to discuss accommodations. Meeting the needs of all participants is very important to the Light The Night experience.
Meet Keely and Haylee the 2023 Pediatric Honored Heroes!
On October 19, 2020, two Nebraska families received the same devastating diagnosis of leukemia for their daughters, then 3 and 5 years old. Treatment started the very next day, landing both little girls an inpatient stay at Children’s. Keely and Haylee quickly went from hospital room neighbors to best friends, going on daily walks around the hall and sporting matching outfits. During the two years of treatments that followed, the moms also made a lifelong bond with one another leaning on the other for support, encouragement and strength.
Keely’s mom, Cami, says, “I don’t know how we would’ve gotten through this without having that connection. We were going through the exact same thing at the exact same time and it feels like a lifelong friendship that’s only developed within the last two years.”
Haylee's mom, Kayla, says, "It’s nice to have someone else that knows what you’re talking about and going through. To other families, I would say, it’s important to take it one day at a time, find a good support system and learn to accept the help."
On Dec. 1, 2022 both girls celebrated their final infusion treatment of chemo, final spinal tap and port removal together. As the girls left Children’s that day, their doctors, nurses, family members and friends, lined the hallway to clap them out of Children's infusion center one final time.
Light The Night Executive Leadership Committee 2023
Corporate Walk Chair: Jack McKeegan | Harrison Financial Services
Executive Challenge Chair: Austin Kershner | Apellis
Ashley Carroll | CHI Health
Chasidy Harrison | Kite Pharma
Derek Briscoe | USI Insurance Services
James Boesen | Inspro
Jenny Hruska-Kopun | USI Insurance Services
Jessica Freedman | Nebraska Medicine
Josh White | Metonic Real Estate Solutions
Katie King | Incyte Corporation
Kevin Hower | E&K of Omaha, Inc.
Kristi Andersen | CBRE
Kyle Skiermont | Nebraska Medicine
Mike Quinn | Williams Quinn Petersen & Associates
Tony Schultz | Kiewit
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For QUESTIONS about LIGHT THE NIGHT OMAHA contact the Campaign Manager:
TRACY FISHER at tracy.fisher@lls.org or 402-216-8370
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