Savannah ––The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announced today that
C. Steven Eagle, Managing Partner of Seacrest Partners, Inc., a privately-held insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, will serve as this year’s Walk Chairman for The Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night® Walk. The walk will be held in Savannah at Forsyth Park on Friday, October 15, 2010.
As Chairman for the Light The Night Walk, Mr. Eagle will invite all Savannah area companies to join in the fight against blood cancer by forming corporate teams and participating in the Light The Night Walk. Additionally, he will host a corporate breakfast this summer to ask other leaders in the community to join him in this fight.
“Light The Night is extremely important to me. I know how The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society raises the funds that literally save people’s lives,” said Eagle. “I am honored to serve as chairman and will encourage the Savannah community to join me in taking strides to save lives.”
While advances in treatments have vastly improved survival rates for some forms of blood cancer, more than 53,000 people will die of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma this year. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under age 20.
“Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every ten minutes someone dies from it,” said Dick Brown, Executive Director of the Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “The Light The Night campaign helps bring hope to thousands of patients and their families. We are thrilled that Mr. Eagle is serving as our Walk Chairman. In addition to Light The Night, he has also volunteered in our Regatta event with great success. We are confident his leadership and inspiration in this year’s Light The Night Walk will be vital to our efforts to make a difference.”
In Georgia, Light The Night’s fundraising efforts have grown from $460,000 in 2003 to more than $1.9 million in 2009. Last year, Savannah’s Light The Night walk raised $115,000 to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. During the event, walkers carry an illuminated balloon along the two mile walk route. Cancer patients and survivors will carry white balloons as “lights of hope,” supporters carry red balloons and those walking in remembrance of someone carry gold balloons. This year, The Society will host five Light The Night Walks throughout Georgia. For more information, visit www.lightthenight.org/ga or call 912-897-1300.
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, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.