On Nov. 14, Charlotte neighbors will gather for Light The Night, a lantern walk that supports blood cancer patients, families and research through Blood Cancer United. Three Quail Hollow neighbors are helping lead it.
Tracy Kerrins, Andrea Bierce and Jayne Borman serve on the event's Executive Leadership Committee. Through their work they are building participation and expanding the reach of the event across the community.
What the lanterns mean
On the evening of the walk, as the sun sets behind the skyline, families, colleagues and friends arrive, each holding a glowing lantern. The colors carry the story. White lanterns are carried by survivors, representing strength, courage and the progress made in treatment. Red lanterns are carried by family, friends and colleagues walking in support. Gold lanterns honor loved ones who have died.
As the walk begins and the lanterns move together, individual stories blend into a single message: no one faces blood cancer alone. There is a moment during the evening when the crowd pauses. Lanterns are raised, stories are shared and names are remembered.
Where the money goes
Funds raised through Light The Night support research that brings new therapies and treatment options to patients. Survival rates for many blood cancers have improved dramatically over time, the organization says, thanks in part to investment in research driven by events like this one.
The impact also reaches patients and families directly: financial support to ease the burden of treatment, access to trusted information in uncertain moments and connection to a community that understands the journey.
In Charlotte, companies rally employees around the cause, friends and families build teams in honor of loved ones, and community leaders step forward to champion it. Too many families are still hearing life-changing diagnoses, the organization says, and the event is meant to keep research funded and support accessible.
How to take part
To learn more or get involved in Light The Night on Nov. 14, visit lightthenight.org or contact Jenny Crow at Jenny.Crow@bloodcancerunited.org.
This story appears in the July 2026 issue of Stroll Quail Hollow.