Carrying the light of hope

June Casagrande

Leukemia and lymphoma are killers. But researchers, survivors and

others interested in defeating the deadly diseases can now see a

light at the end of the tunnel.

On Sunday, their hope will light up the Newport Dunes, when

between 500 and 750 supporters will glow for a cause in Light the

Night, a walk to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Among the supporters will be “Seventh Heaven” star Scotty Leavenworth

, who will take part in the walk in honor of co-star and lymphoma

survivor Barry Watson.

Participants will carry white or red balloons, each containing a

tiny flashlight, to create a glowing statement of hope and support.

“We’ve got so much hope for the future and that a cure will be

found,” said Cathy Beckman, a Costa Mesa resident who lost her

husband, David, to leukemia last year. “David had so much to say on

the goodness of the medical community, the nurses, the doctors,

everyone fighting for him. I wanted some way to give back to the

medical community, and this is a way to do that.”

Beckman is leading a team of friends to take part in the walk in

honor of David, who died at 46 after a 15-month battle with the

disease.

Leukemia and lymphoma are cancers of the blood, and there are many

types of each. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society raises money to fund

research all over the world. It helped fund the discovery of the

breakthrough drug Gleevec, which has been instrumental in helping

keep a lot of leukemia patients in remission, said Tammy Guiso,

spokeswoman for the society’s Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino

counties chapter.

Besides research, the society funds services for patients and

their families. About 75 cents of every dollar raised goes to the

society’s mission. The remaining 25% goes to administrative costs of

running the organization.

The Light the Night event, now in its fourth year, has been an

extremely successful fund-raiser. A Light the Night in Anaheim last

month raised about $200,000. The Dunes event brought in about $90,000

last year and is expected to raise up to $150,000 this year.