Linda Day

Another Day, Another Dollar

I have been participating in Light The Night for 2+ years now. My daughter was diagnosed November 11, 2018 with AML. Our entire lives changed at that moment. Erin had just started university that fall, and her schooling had to be put on hold. I took 9 months off work to be her caregiver. Life was put on hold for a year. We were so lucky to find a perfect match in her oldest sister Kelly, and she had her stem cell transplant January 24, 2019.

Last summer I read about Light the Night, and told my family that I wanted to do this. It actually fell during the fall reading week (yes, Erin was back at school). We have been so lucky, which is a funny thing to say when talking about cancer. But I do feel lucky, and have seen and heard of so many who aren’t. I wanted to do something to honour all those fighting, who have survived, and especially those we’ve lost.

I was able to reach the $5000 milestone because I basically just kept bugging all my friends and family. I was surprised when we raised $5000. I only aimed for $1000. This year we got even more creative. I still bugged all my friends and family (sorry, love you all). In addition we added many raffle prizes, including a week at our family cottage. We participated in an online beer tasting, ran a bottle drive, and had a couple last minute additions to the online auction. Next year who knows. As my amazing daughter Erin says “You’ll only get better at this”.

Light the Night to me means Support and Hope. Support for all those affected by blood cancer, and Hope for better treatments and a cure. Our motto now is Another Day, Another Dollar and another step closer to a cure.

“All Canadians are at risk of blood cancer. It’s better to support funding for a cure before you or a loved one needs the treatment.”
Warren Dietrich - survivor