Montreal's Light the Night walk raises $923,207 for blood cancer research

Montreal – December 12, 2012 – UFCW Canada members and staff recently joined hundreds of participants in the 7^th Annual Light the Night Walk at Jean-Drapeau Park in Montreal, Quebec. This was the fifth time that UFCW Canada activists participated in the Quebec walk and together they raised $210,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). The Society battles deadly blood cancers by raising funds for blood cancer research and providing educational materials, events, and support groups to leukemia and lymphoma patients and their families.

Among the walk's participants walks were leukemia survivor Francis Lagarde, UFCW Canada Local 501 Secretary-Treasurer Mario Delisle, and LLSC Board Member and UFCW Canada national representative Anouk Collet. Walkers were full of energy as they marched with illuminated balloons to raise a total of $923,207 for leukemia and lymphoma research.

"This event was a great success for a truly worthy cause," said Brother Delisle. "Blood cancers shatter thousands of lives each year, but the LLSC's work provides a ray of hope for finding better treatments and saving lives as a result."

Local Union activists continued their fundraising efforts on the Saturday after the walk, as UFCW Canada Local 500 held a disco and bowling event that raised an additional $970. Since adopting the LLSC as its charity of choice, the UFCW Canada family has raised over $26 million for leukemia research — making UFCW Canada Local Unions and members the largest annual source of donations to find a cure and discover more effective treatments for leukemia and other blood cancers.