Walk raises $11,000 for charity

Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 | midnight

Nicole Fuchs / Special to the Home News

Dre’s Phenomenal Warriors begin their walk at Light the Night at Town Square. Participants walked in support of many, including those that have lost the fight, survived or are still fighting cancer.

Nearly 1,200 people marched along the streets at Town Square Las Vegas on Oct. 20 in support of the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Among them was myelofibrosis (blood disease) survivor Lori Roques of Henderson.

Diagnosed in 2002, she received a bone marrow transplant a year later from an anonymous donor on the National Marrow Donor Program registry.

"Some wonderful person saved my life," she said.

Given a clean bill of health, Roques, 50, now volunteers with the society's First Connection peer-to-peer program to counsel others dealing with life-threatening blood diseases.

"There weren't a lot of people for me to turn to, so I talk with people about my experiences," she said. "Just having someone to talk to that's gone through it can help."

The one-night event raised about $11,000 toward the Southern Nevada chapter's goal of $155,000. The chapter has raised about $96,000 since June.

Jamie Cortez and his 10-member Chemo-kazees team carried a sign with 88 names of those affected by blood-borne cancers. His name was among them.

Cortez, a former teacher at Robert Taylor Elementary School, was diagnosed with terminal multiple myeloma and given 36 months to live.

"I'm at 38," he said.

He's received a stem cell transplant and takes medication, but Cortez credits his family most for prolonging his life.

"When you have cancer, it affects your family and everyone you love," Cortez said. "There's no way I could have gone through everything without them."

Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or jeff.pope@hbcpub.com.