The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) has announced they have reached an agreement with Garden City Center to host the 13th annual Light the Night Walk on Oct. 1.

“We are pleased to invite all of the teams and walkers to Garden City this year. This wonderful event is in keeping with the family and community orientation of our center,” said Bill Koconis, executive director of the LLS.

Janice Pascone, Garden City Marketing Director, is also pleased that the Society is bringing the event back to its home base in Cranston.

“We believe this change in location will be beneficial to our Walk for the greater Providence area. We are always working to improve the Walk. This is a very convenient site for all of our participants,” Pascone said.

The event will begin at the Garden City Gazebo for a walking distance of two miles, beginning with registration at 5 p.m., then a remembrance at 6 p.m. and opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. before the walk at 7 p.m.

People who participate in the walk receive a lighted balloon. The color of the balloon is significant. Red balloons are for supporters, white balloons are carried by survivors and gold balloons are in honor of a loved one who has passed.

Since the Walk occurs after dark, they truly Light the Night. The Walk brings as many as 2,000 people together each year for.

“I’ve been involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 15 years. I have done the Light the Night Walk since its inception and I do it to raise funds for researchers and it is something I feel strongly about,” said Al Hurst, Light the Night’s 2011 Honored Patient.

Hurst is a longtime educator, and currently a teacher at Cranston High School East.

His history with blood cancers is intensely personal. He has experienced two bone marrow transplants. He was diagnosed with CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), underwent his first transplant and struggled to cope with extreme fatigue, a side effect of his condition. His family, friends, colleagues’ and students helped him pull through this battle with their support and encouragement.

Hurst’s first transplant failed, so he underwent a second one. It has been just over five years since his second bone marrow transplant. His five-year checkup was in May.

He was told by his doctor that he is cured of CLL.

Light The Night is a core fundraiser for the LLS. Each walker is encouraged to raise $100 and become a Champion for Cures. LLS funds research, patient services, public and professional education and advocacy for blood cancer patients and their families. In the 63 years since its founding LLS has greatly improved the life expectancy outcomes for people with blood cancers of all kinds.

Hurst and students from Cranston East will be at the walk, led by the Cranston High School West Band.

“My connection to Mr. Hurst has lasted for seven years now. I have known him since sixth grade from taking his classes. He has always been there for me, especially when he got sick. He would always be on the webcam talking to us from the hospital,” recalled Justin Calderara, a senior at Cranston East. “You could always tell Mr. Hurst cared about us. That is a major reason why I am walking the Light the Night walk on October 1 in Cranston. You should join me.”

Anyone can take part – children, adults and seniors are all welcome. This is a casual fundraising walk with no fitness requirements. There are many ways you can help. You can register to walk individually or as part of a team, make a donation online or become a volunteer or sponsor/partner.

The Light the Night Walk funds lifesaving research and support for people like Hurst, battling cancer. There are more than 200 communities in North America that participate in Light the Night.

ABC 6, GoLocalProv.com, WHJJ, WHJY, COAST 93.3 and B101 present light The Night. Sponsors include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of RI, TransCanada Corporation and TD Bank.

For more information on the walk or about LLS, contact their office at 943-8888.