Alex & Val Mandarino

Alex was diagnosed with ALL in 2014, his treatment ran 2 and a half years.

When Alex was first diagnosed, he was not interested in getting involved in the cancer community or looking for ways to contribute, he had to concentrate on getting through what he was dealing with. It was Val who began to explore what was out there and encourage Alex.

Val is a First Connection volunteer – her biggest hope is that this program only gains more momentum and more traction. She said that when she spoke to her First Connection volunteer, everything changed for her. She was better able to navigate and know what to expect while she was supporting Alex through his diagnosis and treatment, as well as having someone understand her struggles as a caregiver.

The Mandarino’s did not attend their first LTN as participants, Val was actually a registration volunteer in 2015! Through conversations she had, especially with white lantern participants, she started to understand that herself and Alex were not at all alone. In 2016, Val, along with Alex, were back at Light The Night, as participants, and have continued to attend each year with their team Keepin’ It Real!

Val and Alex had a few words to describe Light The Night: support, touching, heartfelt, comforting, community, warmth and strength!

“At Light The Night, you find strength in the community, you can feel the energy and courage emulating from all participants throughout the walk,” says Alex. “Having LLSC specifically focusing on Leukemia & Lymphoma makes you feel like you are a focus, like you have a family within that community. When you look around at LTN and you see the community come together and you see how much the strength and support means to the patients and families, it makes you want to donate and fundraise. You know the research dollars are important because the survival rates have dramatically increased over the last 20 years. This is proof that the donations are put to good use. Seeing this fact with all of the white lanterns in the crowd stirs up encouragement to continue supporting!”

Light The Night creates memories that live on long past the night itself and this creates such a positive and lasting experience for everyone.