As the sun fades this Friday, hundreds in Delaware Park will illuminate lanterns during the annual Light the Night Walk. The event supports the work of the Western and Central New York Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The money raised by the organization over the years has been put to good use.
"Looking back to, from the statistics in the 60's, when a child was diagnosed with Leukemia, the chances of survival were very slim--three percent," said Luann Burgio deputy executive director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"Now, today, thanks to the support of our community, some forms of childhood leukemia, survival rates are over 90 percent."
There's been strong support for Light the Night with last year's event raising $430,000. Burgio says the event draws groups from throughout the area.
"We encourage teams. We are in need of teams."
Dennis Dintino will be bussing teams from his two area businesses, Hazmat Environmental Group and Kenworth Northeast Group.
"It's probably the biggest team-building thing that I do at either one of my companies," Dintino explained.
"I have people arriving there at 5 O'clock and they're staying at Delaware Park until 11, 12 at night. They feel good about themselves. Everybody wants to do something about this terrible disease and it's a good feeling."
Every three minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with blood cancer. An astounding statistic, certainly, but it's more than a number for Dintino, who may understand the term "pay it forward" better than most. A supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for many years, Dintino's association took a personal turn in February, 2011 when his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.
"When the door to the leukemia or cancer world opens up and you walk through, you never come out. It's something that never goes away. For that person, the family and anyone close to him," said Dintino, who added that his daughter has responded well to a bone marrow transplant.
While her condition continues to be monitored, her personal and professional life is progressing. She recently accepted a promotion to a job in Chicago.
"Twenty years ago, my daughter would have been alive for a week and they told us that---period---from when she was diagnosed. That would have been it," Dintino proclaimed.
"She's around. It's not going to beat her. That's just the way it is."
