Light the Night Walk set for Friday

Frontiersman

Valley residents can Light the Night this Friday as a way to raise money for blood cancer research.

The fourth annual Light the Night Walk begins at the Garden of Reflection in Wasilla at 7 p.m. Friday. The fund-raiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has grown steadily in the four years of existence in the Valley, and organizer Kelly Marre said she's looking forward to another successful event.

&#8220Last year when it was raining so hard, I was ready to do a quick loop and call it good, but everybody said, ‘No, Kelly, we're here to walk,' and they did, which meant a lot,” Marre said.

Marre helped organize the Anchorage event for three years before starting the Wasilla event four years ago. Her son, Logan, lost his battle with leukemia, and she has worked tirelessly to help others who are going through what her family did. The event is officially dedicated to Kathleen Walker-Williams and Logan J. Marre, and this year it's being held in honor of Connor Dunham (see related story).

In conjunction with the walk, there will be a bone marrow registry and blood drive from 2-8 p.m. at the Public Safety Building near Iditapark. People can sign up for the registry and donate blood at the Blood Bank of Alaska's Lifemobile.

&#8220Just from the Light the Night walks here, I'd estimate we've signed up 150 people for the bone marrow registry,” Marre said.

Marre said parking will be available around the area Friday, and volunteers will be directing people. A number of local businesses have donated auction items, and Alaskan Splendor Limousine is bringing a Hummer limo, with rides between 5:30 and 6:30 going for a suggested donation of between $5 and $10.

There will be live music starting at 6 p.m., and Subway and Fred Meyer have donated food for the event.

All the money raised during the evening goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Registration begins at 6 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.

For more information, interested people can call Marre at 373-1528.