Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City sponsors Kansas City Light the Night to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, patients and families

KANSAS CITY, MO (October 1, 2021) – Bringing light to the darkness of cancer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) is a proud sponsor of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) fundraiser, Kansas City Light the Night.

The mission of LLS is to support research to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Instead of hosting an evening walk this year, the Oct. 2, 2021, event will be held virtually to ensure the safety of blood cancer patients, their families, staff, donors and volunteers.

Blue KC is dedicated to cultivating a healthier Kansas City. Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Sweat will serve as co-chair of this year’s virtual event.

“A cancer diagnosis greatly impacts patients and their families,” Dr. Sweat said. “Light the Night not only supports The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission to find cures for blood cancer, but it’s also a way to celebrate and honor those touched by this devastating disease.”

LLS helped advance 85% of the blood cancer treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2017, according to its website. Since LLS was founded in 1949 the organization has invested nearly $1.3 billion in cancer research.

On Oct. 2, 2021, from 7-8 p.m., registered participants will log onto Zoom to celebrate together and then hear stories from blood cancer survivors, honor loved ones lost to cancer and later select and raise a virtual lantern to Light the Night.

Registration is free, but participants are encouraged to raise funds to support the mission.

Additional information can be found here: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/kansas-city

The goal of Kansas City Light the Night is to raise $1,000,000 for LLS.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.