WVU Medicine’s first Light the Night event honors cancer patients and care teams

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine Children’s joined with Blood Cancer United to host “Light the Night”.   

The Sept. 4 event honored cancer survivors, supported patients and families who are still fighting, and remembered those who have passed away.   

Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, started the yearly event as a walk through inpatient units in hospitals, eventually growing into a larger community event spanning several hospital campuses. This year marks the first time an outdoor Light the Night has taken place at WVU Medicine.    

“Light the Night is more than an event—it is a powerful reminder that no one faces a blood cancer diagnosis alone,” said Ashkan Emadi, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at the WVU School of Medicine. “We come together as patients, families, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers to honor those we’ve lost, support those in the fight, and celebrate the progress we are making. It’s a privilege to stand alongside our community as we work toward a future where every patient has hope and every life touched by blood cancer can be transformed.”  

Participants carried lanterns: red for supporters, white for survivors, and gold for remembrance, before listening to personal testimonies from survivors.   

WVU Cancer Institute patient Art Henry, with his wife Barb there to support him, shared his inspiring journey from diagnosis and treatment to remission. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his care team—especially Lauren Veltri, M.D.—who supported him every step of the way.  

14-year-old Micah Summey of Martinsburg and his father, Robert, shared their testimonies. When Micah was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, his family turned to WVU Medicine Children’s for care. He is now in remission and looking forward to starting his first year of high school.   

“Seeing these kids who were previous patients of WVU Medicine Children’s now growing and thriving is why we work so hard to provide world-class cancer care,” said Patrick Tomboc, M.D., division chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at WVU Medicine Children’s. “We hope that families going through treatment right now saw these lanterns and know that our team and the community are behind them and they are not on this cancer journey alone.”   

The Light the Night walk took participants with illuminated lanterns across the WVU Medicine Morgantown campus. The group proceeded from Touchdown Terrace at Milan Puskar Stadium on to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, then to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital.   

The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of community partners like WVU Athletics, BFS Companies, and Blood Cancer United.   

Blood Cancer United supports people affected by more than 100 types of blood cancer. The organization raises funds for life-saving research and has delivered more than $1.8 billion in financial assistance to families fighting cancer, including those in West Virginia.   

“We are so proud and honored to bring Light the Night back to West Virginia in partnership with WVU Medicine Children’s and the WVU Cancer Institute,” said Becca Gregory, campaign development director for Blood Cancer United. “Seeing patients, healthcare providers, families, and friends come together to bring light to the darkness of cancer was deeply moving—especially for our local patients who felt the strength and support of their community.”