Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada garners support of prominent business leaders

OpenText CEO & CTO and Beer Store President named co-chairs of Light The Night Walk committee in Toronto

TORONTO, June 2, 2016 /CNW/ - The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, Ontario Region, is pleased to announce that Mark Barrenechea, CEO of OpenText Corp., and Ted Moroz, President of the Beer Store, have pledged their support to the Light The Night Walk signature fundraising event.

"We are excited that prominent business leaders Ted Moroz and Mark Barrenechea together with their staff at the Beer Store and OpenText Corp. have joined the fight to end blood cancers," says Sandra Harris, Ontario Regional Director.  "The Light The Night Walk is an inspiring and meaningful event for those who are touched by blood cancers and it is thanks in part to the leadership of volunteers like Barrenechea and Moroz that the event has grown immensely over the last decade, not just in Toronto, but in 11 major cities from coast to coast in Canada."

Approximately every 25 minutes, a Canadian receives a blood cancer diagnosis, making the disease the fourth-most frequent cancer diagnosis in men and women. New cases of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma accounted for 10 percent of the estimated 191,300 new cancer cases diagnosed in Canada in 2014.

Moroz and Barrenechea will be among the 6,000 people who are expected to congregate at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 to take part in the Light The Night Walk. Together, they will walk along a designated 3 km route through the downtown core while carrying bright lanterns that light the night for those affected by blood cancers.

"This is a cause that is very personal to me," says Barrenechea, co-chair of the event and CEO & CTO of OpenText. "My life has been changed by my personal journey with leukemia and I have come out stronger. I now have the opportunity to provide hope and support to others on their journeys and help them along their path. I am extremely proud to have the OpenText team walking with me and supporting this cause."

"At the Beer Store, we are a family that's committed to giving back to the community. Being a part of Light The Night Walk is just an extension of our family," says Moroz, who returns for the second year as co-chair. "I have seen firsthand why the Walk is so important to people who are affected by a blood cancer and I want to do whatever I can to make sure the event touches as many people as possible."

The Beer Store, together with UFCW LOCAL 12R24, have supported The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada through various activities for the last 11 years raising over $11 million in that time.

In 2015, over 35,000 Canadians raised $5.5 million by participating in Light The Night Walks across Canada to help fund world-class Canadian researchers working on the most promising projects that have the potential to improve treatments or find cures for the various forms of blood cancers. In addition, monies raised make it possible for us to provide free information and support services to blood cancer patients and their caregivers.

Business leaders wishing to join a Light The Night Walk committee should visit LightTheNight.ca to learn more.

About Light The Night Walk
Each year, in communities across Canada, teams of families, friends, and co-workers come together to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada's Light The Night Walks and bring help and hope to people affected by blood cancers, their families, and survivors. These efforts culminate in inspirational, memorable evening walks in nearly 200 communities across North America each fall. There are 11 official Canadian Light The Night Walks and dozens of volunteer-hosted community and school walks across the country. Visit LightTheNight.ca to learn more.

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) is a voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLSC funds lifesaving blood cancer research across Canada, and provides free information and support services. The LLSC mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

National Office Location:
804-2 Lansing Square
Toronto, ON M2J 4P8
Charitable Registration#: 10762 3654 RR0001

Follow the hash tag for updates: #LightTheNight

Light The Night Walk fact sheet

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

Image with caption: "Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (CNW Group/The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160602_C4639_PHOTO_EN_704441.jpg

For further information: To arrange an interview or for more information please contact: Felicitas Adrian, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, Phone: [phone] or Email: [email protected]