A crowd of nearly 1,000 people gathered in the Justin Herman Plaza to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's tenth-annual Light the Night Walk.

The event was a celebration for all the lives touched by blood cancers and a place for LLS for raise money for cancer research and patients services.

"Light the Night is about the people and the families," said Herna Cruz-Louie, campaign manager for the Light the Night Walk. "It's a very personal event. It's definitely a feel good, down-to-heart event."

The walk took place at night, and each participant carried a lighted balloon as they strolled down the Embarcadero from the plaza to AT&T Park. Some carried a red balloon in support of those with blood cancers. Some carried a white balloon to say that they themselves are survivors. Some carried a gold balloon in memory of someone who had lost their battle.

Prior to the walk, survivor Brian Lott spoke to the crowd as Light the Night's honored hero. Local band Brad Wolfe and the Moon performed, and the Bay Area's Armadillo Willy's served food. There was even free bone marrow typing available to everyone there.

Participant Nancy Atkins survived rare Hairy Cell Leukemia ten years ago, during a time when such diagnosis was considered fatal. She credits the LLS for finding a cure for her uncommon illness.

"I'm here in gratitude for everyone who worked hard to make Cladribine (the drug that cured her) a fact," said Atkins. "No one's ever heard of Hairy Cell Leukemia, so it's not going to get any funding except through the LLS--so I want to support them."

In 2007, the Light the Night Walk raised $4 million nationwide and nearly $650,000 in the Bay Area alone.

"It's a huge deal," adds Cruz-Louie. "Especially during this time when everyone's saying that the economy is really bad. These patients still need that support."

For more information on the Light the Night Walk or how to donate, visit: www.lightthenight.org.