“I live in the moment, for the moment, and each moment is priceless…” – Julie Visner

The Light The Night Walk is a stunning display of hope for anyone whose life has been impacted by cancer. Too many of us know what it’s like for a loved one to receive a cancer diagnosis. By helping to raise funds for research, and by enlisting the support of my colleagues at College of the Canyons (COC) and beyond, I am working to become part of the solution to ensure that cancer will one day be a thing of the past.

Last year, I volunteered to lead a team of COC nursing students for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light The Night Walk. I then discovered that blood cancer hit very close to home – COC Counseling Faculty Member, Julie Visner, had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma in December of 2009.
A proud mother and avid horseback rider, Julie began aggressive chemo treatment and received a stem cell transplant at City of Hope in July, 2010. Her fierce battle and unwavering strength thankfully resulted in REMISSION. While still on maintenance chemo treatments, Julie has been adapting to a “new normal,” in her words, which means she takes no moment for granted, and her battle continues. Julie continues to counsel students, as cancer has not changed her career mission of “changing the world, one student at a time.” Julie updates her blog to offer hope to others who may be in treatment for cancer.
Julie’s journey became the COC nursing students’ call to action and fueled our desire to participate in the Santa Clarita Light The Night Walk. Representing COC at the Walk last year, we raised over $11,000 for LLS! The event was so moving and inspiring. Over 1,500 fundraising walkers and community members carried illuminated balloons at dusk.
The COC team will walk again this year on October 13 at the Carnival-themed Walk in Bridgeport Park. We will have even more support from other departments as we’ve discovered that many other faculty members, students, and alums have a special reason to walk. Julie’s battle is by no means over, nor are the battles of so many who’ve been impacted by blood cancers. The COC community, like Santa Clarita, is very strong and compassionate and we do all we can to make a difference. We hope you will join us this year and help raise funds to beat cancer.
For more information, visit www.lightthenight.org/santaclarita.