Wanda Fitzgerald, Gwinnett District customer service representative, with Chloe Akridge at Light the Night event in Athens, Ga
Since 2011, Wanda Fitzgerald, Gwinnett District customer service representative, has walked in the Light the Night event honoring family and friends who are battling or have lost their battle against cancer.
The annual nationwide fundraising walk celebrates and commemorates lives affected by cancer. Proceeds are donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and used for research, patient services and education.
The Light the Night event begins with family-oriented activities, music and refreshments, then the walk starts as the sun goes down. Participants walk a 3-mile route through downtown Athens, Ga, carrying illuminated balloons, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.
Fitzgerald carried a red balloon in support of the event and a white balloon to honor friends, Stacey and Ray Akridge’s daughter, Chloe. Chloe was born with Down’s syndrome and diagnosed with Leukemia when she was two years old.
At this year’s event, Chloe, now six years old, was one of the honored heroes for her cancer remission. “The smile on Chloe’s face throughout the walk, and afterwards when she was on stage as a survivor, was worth every cent raised and the time spent gathering donations,” Fitzgerald said. Wanda also carried a gold balloon in memory of other loved ones who lost their battle with cancer.
Team Chloe raised nearly $2,000, and the event night in Athens raised over $115,000.00. “Any time I participate in events like this, it warms my heart, reminds me of what others may be going through and leaves me feeling good about my involvement,” said Wanda.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, as well as improving the quality of life of patients and their families. For more information, visit www.lls.org/ga.