Frequently Asked Questions

All your questions answered in one place!


The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk brings light to the darkness of cancer by funding lifesaving research and support for people battling cancer. Family, friends and co-workers gather together to celebrate, honor or remember those touched by cancer. Registration is free, but walkers are encouraged to raise funds to support the mission. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening experiences filled with music, fireworks and empowering ceremonies honoring survivors and remembering those we have lost. Please join us and nearly 1M others in the 140 walks across North America.

Just like our other walkers, patients and survivors have an opportunity to raise $100 or more and become a Champion for Cures. Many of our highest individual fundraisers are patients and survivors.

Patients/survivors who do not raise $100 or more and want to attend the Walk are encouraged to attend and participate as guests of LLS. Patients and survivors receive all benefits (t-shirt, lantern and wristband for food) regardless of the fundraising level achieved. This applies to patients only, not their family members or team members.

You can become a member of our Bright Lights Club by raising $1,000 or more, which will have a significant impact in creating a world without blood cancer. In 2016, our Bright Lights Club members raised $22.5 million to support our mission. To learn more about Bright Lights and how you can raise $1,000 or more, contact your local Chapter.

Funding cutting-edge research and providing support services to patients and their families during their cancer journey requires resources. In order to fuel our mission, we need participants like you to help raise critical dollars. Here are just a few examples of how these funds make a difference:

  • In communities across the country, LLS support groups provide patients and their families with a place to listen, learn and share with others in the same situation.
  • Cancer can be overwhelming. But help is just a phone call away. LLS information resource specialists help educate and empower patients with individualized disease information and treatment options.
  • In fiscal year 2016, LLS invested $49.3 million in blood cancer research. LLS funds breakthrough therapies for patients with blood cancers that are saving lives today.

All registered participants will receive an illuminated lantern. Every walker who raises $100 or more is a Champion For Cures and will receive a Light The Night t-shirt and a wristband which entitles the walker to food.

Walkers who raise less than $100 are welcome to join us for an inspirational evening including music, fireworks (if applicable) and camaraderie but do not qualify for a Light The Night t-shirt or a wristband for food. However, patients and survivors receive these benefits regardless of their fundraising level.

Most Walk sites have food available for purchase in addition to complimentary refreshments at the hydration station.

Any team member who becomes a Champion For Cures and raises $100 or more will receive these benefits.

Because many of our successful teams plan events to raise funds collectively, LTN staff are available to actively assist team captains with a customized fundraising plan that (in addition to team fundraising events) encourages all walkers to strive to raise at least the walker average of $300 or more individually-through email, direct asks to friends and utilizing their individual online fundraising webpage.

During the Walk, walkers carry illuminated lanterns in three colors: white lanterns are carried by survivors; red lanterns by supporters; gold lanterns are carried by those walking in memory of loved ones lost to cancer.

Actual distances vary by route and city. Contact your local chapter for the exact distance. A leisurely pace is the norm on this Walk, which takes under an hour to complete.

Companies participate by organizing teams of employees, including their friends, neighbors and family members, to raise money and walk in the event. Create a corporate team here.

Sponsorship opportunities are available at both the national and local level. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor please contact Nichole Guzman at Nichole.TyermanGuzman@lls.org.

It's very simple! Once you appoint a team captain to act as a liaison between LLS and your organization, we will provide all the materials and guidelines to ensure success in building a successful Light The Night team. Interested in becoming a team captain? Find more information here.

We recommend that a team consist of at least 10 people, with each individual walker raising funds. Encourage your team members to beat the national fundraising average of $300, or raise $100 or more to become a Champion For Cures. You can have a team with fewer than 10 walkers, and most teams have many more. The more walkers on a team, the more fun it is!

No. Team participation is encouraged among employees' families, friends and neighbors. The magical and uplifting setting of Light The Night creates a fun, wholesome event that brings co-workers and their families together outside the office for the purpose of helping others.

Corporate donations are encouraged but not required. The majority of contributions will be generated by your individual team members. However, corporate matching gifts can enhance employee fundraising efforts.

Yes, your team can have multiple team captains. Your company can create a friendly competition among departments or branch sites by recruiting a team captain from each department or floor. It is a great way to generate enthusiasm and friendly competition for a worthy cause.

No problem. We suggest appointing a team captain to lead a team at one Walk site and another team captain for the other Walk site.

Management can encourage team participation in a number of ways:

  • Sign up for the team
  • Draft and distribute a company-wide memo or email endorsing Light The Night
  • Authorize/host company-wide recruitment, information meetings and an internal kickoff
  • Purchase team T-shirts or other incentives to promote their company's commitment to Light The Night Walk
  • Recognize and reward employees who achieve fundraising milestones, such as becoming Bright Lights.
  • Solicit company vendors for contributions toward the team

Individual team members are responsible for setting goals and raising funds from co-workers, friends, neighbors and family members. Each walker automatically receives an online fundraising page upon registration. You can use this page to solicit donors and have them support you via online donations. The average LTN walker raises $300.

Teams can also conduct fundraisers such as bake sales, dress down days, lemonade stands, golf tournaments - the sky is the limit! Be creative and have fun!

Each team member is responsible for collecting funds from supporters and giving them to the team captain, who forwards them to LLS. Funds raised online are automatically credited to the walker.

The sooner the better! The sooner you get started with your recruitment efforts and fundraising activities, the more success you can have. Our major recruitment phase begins in April, and we know that some companies like to get these events on the calendar earlier in the year.

When you register, we will receive your own efundraising page. This page will be filled with great fundraising tips, ideas, samples and instructions on how to customize your personal efundraising page. You can use the page as is or add your own photos and personal message. Then, email your contacts a link to your site and watch the dollars start coming in! It's fun and simple to do.

Proceeds from Light The Night Walk help advance our mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. This mission is carried out through funding extensive research for treatments and cures, government advocacy, patient assistance programs, community outreach and education programs

Please check with your chapter staff for their policy on pets. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. However, for everyone's safety, bicycles, inline skates, wheelie footwear, skateboards and scooters are not allowed.

The Walk is held rain or shine.

Yes. LLS has staff members who would be more than happy to meet with you and your team to talk about Light The Night and help you build your team fundraising and recruitment plan. In addition, we have a Light The Night video that highlights personal stories and shows footage from previous Light The Night Walk events. Contact your local chapter to arrange a visit.


Please contact your local chapter with questions about Light The Night Walk.

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