A myriad of glowing white, red and gold balloons lit up Penn's Landing on Saturday evening when about 5,000 people gathered at twilight to participate in the ninth annual Light the Night.
Organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Light the Night is a nationwide charity event that raises funds to research cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
Volunteers walked in a two-mile circle. Cancer patients and survivors held white balloons, supporters of cancer patients carried red balloons, and those walking in memory of a cancer victim had gold balloons.
"We don't advertise it as a 5K race; it's more of a celebration," said campaign manager Dana Chipko.
Before the kickoff of the walk, participants gathered to listen to speeches and live bands and watch a memorial candle lighting ceremony.
According to Chipko, Philidephia's Light the Night was "absolutely" successful this year.
"My goal was to raise $500,000," said Chipko. "I don't have a final number yet, but I'm certainly going to meet and probably exceed it."
All seven regions of the group had a goal of raising $1.5 million total, and Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvanian chapter Joanne Spink said this projection was definitely feasible.
"With 185 teams, this is the largest walk we have ever had," Spink said.
"Philadelphia and its surrounding counties have shown a tremendous amount of support for this cause," Chipko said.
While most of the funds raised during Light the Night are directed toward cancer research, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society also provides numerous patient services.
"One of the things that the society supports is a First Connection Program, so that when you're newly diagnosed, you have a support system," Light the Night participant and eight-year cancer survivor David Wolovitz said.
Participants walk either as individuals or as teams, and registration for the event is available both in advance and on the day of the walk.
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania had several registered teams, and Penn community-service organization Circle K sent three volunteers to the event.
"It was really moving to see how many people were holding signs or pictures of somebody they'd lost to cancer," said College freshman Pam Putnam, one of the Circle K volunteers.
"Before Light the Night, it was easy for me to forget about cancer - it hasn't affected me. But those people holding signs and pictures can never forget about the ones they lost, and, now, neither can I."
