The second annual Shoot to Kill Cancer Sporting Clays Fun Shoot last weekend in Midway benefited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the annual Light the Night Walk in Savannah. All proceeds from the fundraiser went to support blood-cancer research. The fun shoot and the Light the Night Walk are designed to drum up awareness for survivors and support for the families of those who’ve lost their battles with blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  
“Blood cancers are hard to treat,” said Linda Newsome, event coordinator and blood-cancer survivor. “By the time symptoms start appearing, the cancer is already in the later stages.”
Blood cancers affect cells in the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s website. More than 1 million people in the United States live with or are in remission from blood cancer.
The goal of fundraisers like the fun shoot is to support research in order to find a cure and ensure access to lifesaving therapies for all patients, Newsome said.
“Building awareness and fundraising for blood cancer is so important to finding a cure,” she added. “Awareness is key.”
Newsome was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma five years ago after she went to her doctor complaining of pain in a lymph node in her neck. She was treated for a sinus infection, but it never healed. After she underwent a few tests, her doctors determined that she had stage 4 cancer. She went through intensive and aggressive chemotherapy.
“I was told I might not make it,” Newsome said. “But five years later, I’m still here.”
Ten years ago, a blood-cancer diagnosis was a “get your affairs in order” type of diagnosis, she said. The five-year survival rate for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma rose from 31 percent in the 1960s to 71 percent between 2003 and 2009.
“There has been a lot of progress in the past few years,” Newsome said. “But we still need to find better treatment for patients.”
All funds raised at the Sept. 6 fun shoot were donated to help find new, effective therapies and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Many fun-shoot participants are blood-cancer survivors themselves or have family members who struggled with cancer.
“There is still a high rate of blood-cancer occurrences,” Newsome said. “We have many survivors on our team.”
September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and fundraisers are scheduled throughout the month and into October. Savannah’s Light the Night Walk on Oct. 17 will raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society while honoring blood-cancer survivors and those who succumbed to the disease.
“These events are great ways to bring the community together and honor those with blood cancers,” Newsome said.
At the event, participants walk two miles holding different color balloons. Those walking with red balloons are supporters, and those who walk with white are survivors. Participants who carry gold balloons walk in memory of someone who has passed on because of blood cancers.
“Our goal is to have more red and white balloons out there,” she said.  “I believe there will be a cure one day.”
Newsome raised more than $10,000 at last year’s shoots and hopes to raise close to $12,000 this year. Galbreath and Sons Heating and Air sponsored the event.
“It is a great way to step up and support a great cause,” company owner Larry Galbreath said.
Newsome works with Galbreath, who lost his father to cancer.
“We signed up to sponsor the event for the new couple of years,” he said. “We have a lot of friends and business come out to support the cause.”
More information on blood cancers is available at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website, www.lls.org. Information on the upcoming Light the Night event in Savannah is available at lightthenight.org/ga/savanna14/lifesavers.