Westfield Lights the Night

The lawn of the Presbyterian Church was filled with lighted red balloons Saturday evening as residents gathered for the fourth annual Light the Night Walk.

The annual walk, a national event, benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for their work researching cures for the blood cancers. The event kicked off with a two hour warm up on the church lawn before participants walked into the night lighting their way with red balloons.

"It is a national walk the Leukemia Society runs every year," event coordinator Meg Freer said. "Last year we had over 1,000 walkers and raised over $140,000."

Freer expects this year's totals will be similar to last year. Many participants came in larger teams, including one from Coldwell Banker which highlighted the participant roster the last two years.

The walk kicked off with a solemn ceremony on the steps of the church, where local dignitaries including Mayor Andy Skibitsky and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz (R-Summit), briefly spoke. Friends and relatives of those who lost their battles with cancer were invited to place flowers in a vase honoring those who have died. Walkers who have successfully battled cancer were brought forward to be honored by the crowd, while "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" blared on the steps.

"It's been a huge success," Freer said.