Opinion

Battling leukemia by lighting the night

Posted September 06, 2009 11:00 pm

By Marilyn Buchholz Guest Columnist

Each weekend thousands of people take to the streets of our communities, walking and running to raise money for charities. Every one of them has found a cause to believe in, a bit of hope through helping. And every one of them has a reason for being there.

Today, Marilyn Buchholz of Lisle describes the support she feels from the Light the Nigh Walk. The walk is Sept. 12 in Lisle's Community Park near Route 53 and Short Street.

Soon I will walk in my Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk. My family and I began walking in 2003 when I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, an indolent, or slow-growing, blood-related cancer.

When I was told I had this disease, the first thing I was concerned about was what type of treatment would I need and how we - my husband, children who were then 19, 17 and 9, and I - would react to the news. I think the hardest thing about being diagnosed was telling them, "I have cancer."

I started getting information about lymphoma on the Internet, and that is how I found the Light the Night Walk. When I read about the walk - it was in Naperville and people of all ages could participate because it was not a 5K, a 10K run or a marathon but simply a 2-mile walk - I realized we could walk as a group, with babies in strollers, my daughter's friends in grade school, and older people. I thought, "This is the type of support I am looking for." I wanted to get all my friends and their families involved.

That first year, we started out with 13 people, including my dearest friends and neighbors, and several of those 13 are still walking with us. Our team name - inspired by my daughter Emma and her best friend, Hannah, both 9 years old at the time - is "The Warriors." We still use that name, but we now number 116 walkers.

It is very humbling to know that people care about you and support you enough to be a part of this walk.

It is a team effort and we have raised more than $36,000.

My husband and I have lived in Lisle for 28 years. Our children have grown up here, and my husband has worked in Lisle for 40 years so we consider our friends here to be part of our family. It is the love and support from them that helps me cope with this disease. Numerous times in the past six years, I have had a lymph node light up in my PET scans and it's scary for me and my family to wonder what is next.

I have learned that leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and all blood-related cancers kill people. Some of us are lucky to survive, but so many are not. In the past year, I know of two people who have died of blood cancers and a third who was diagnosed with lymphoma. It is sad how many people are being diagnosed.

The more people we educate about these diseases, the more we can help those stricken with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Seventy-five percent of the money raised through Light the Night Walks goes directly toward research and patient assistance.

The Light the Night Walk is very moving. Participants carry lighted balloons - red for supporters, white for survivors and gold in memory of someone who died from a blood-related cancer.

I would encourage anyone thinking about participating in the Light the Night Walk to join us Sept. 12. Whether you raise $20, $100 or $10,000, your being there gives all those surviving with blood-related cancers hope that we can find a cure someday.

For information about the Light the Night Walk or to donate, call me at (630) 355-9863 or visit lightthenight.org/il/. To learn about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, call Melanie Streich at (312) 568-7739 or visit lls.org.

Participants in the Light the Night Walk set out at dusk carrying illuminated balloons - red for supporters, white for survivors and gold in memory of those who have died of blood cancers. Paul Michna | Staff Photographer, 2005

West Suburban Light the Night Walk Why: To benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society When: Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.; walk steps off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 Where: Community Park, 1820 Short St., Lisle Details: 2-mile walk Donate: <a href="http://pages.lightthenight.org/il/WSuburbn09/yankee5" target="new">pages.lightthenight.org/il/WSuburbn09/yankee5</a> Info: <a href="http://lightthenight.org" target="new">lightthenight.org</a>

Article Comments

Article Categories
Addison Communities Counties DuPage County Lisle Opinion West Chicago

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.