Ryan's 1st Light the Night
Walk
Ryan McLaughlin was an
adventurous 11-year-old when he began his battle with t-cell acute
lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare form of leukemia. By that young age, it was
already clear that he had curiosity and ingenuity well beyond his years. Ryan
was an honor student with a keen interest in science. He was intrigued by
how things worked, especially rockets, aircrafts, computers, and even all of
the equipment that was used in his cancer treatment. He enjoyed lacrosse,
ice and roller hockey, and baseball (games with sticks), and was eager to
return to these sports after remitting the cancer.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held the first D.C. Light the Night Walk on September 16, 1999, just two days before Ryan's 13th birthday. He almost managed to walk the entire route, alongside his
parents and sisters, carrying a white "survivor" balloon.
First diagnosed in July 1998, Ryan and his doctors put the disease
into remission three times. But the last of these left his immune system
without the ability to resist infection, and Ryan died in December 1999 at the young age of 13.
Ryan left behind a heartbroken, but strong, family; his two
parents: Mike and Prince, and three sisters: Sarah, Mary, and Regan.
Keep Fighting :: The Young Hearts are Created
2000 Ryan's older sister, Sarah, then 16, was
grieving the loss of her younger brother and biggest fan and was devastated that
she could no longer help Ryan fight the cancer. But when encouraged to participate in the Light the Night Walk, she realized that she could still
fight for others affected by such illnesses. She and friend, Julia Tedesco,
created a team they named the "Young Hearts," and set a goal of
$1,000. They were astonished when it turned out that they had raised more
than $4,000 to fight leukemia and lymphoma. This was extremely exciting
for a team of elementary, middle and high school students. Combined with
the money raised by the first Ryan McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament, our
community was able to donate over $10,000 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society.
2001 Sarah led the Young Hearts again,
encouraged and inspired by the passion and support of these very capable young
people. The team raised money by writing letters, selling and delivering
bagels, having car washes, and selling chances to win pizza by making foul
shots during halftime at a local high school's basketball game. Team membership
soared, and the 2001 Young Hearts raised over $18,000. In August, representing The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Sarah was invited to the White House to meet
President George W. Bush and Lance Armstrong.
2002 Sarah leaves for college, and Andy Beck, a
good friend of Ryan's since kindergarten, offered to take the lead of the Young
Hearts. He challenged the individual team members to raise $250 each. The
average individual funds raised easily surpassed this goal.
2003 Andy, then a high school senior, invited a
co-captain, Mary McLaughlin, Ryan's younger sister and a high school sophomore
at the time, to help out with the Young Hearts team.
2004 Mary and another classmate and friend of
Ryan's, senior Alli Foroobar, led the team. Silver Diner Nights, bake sales
and yard sales became a staple of fun fundraising events added during this
time.
2005-6 After Alli left for college, Regan McLaughlin, an
eighth grade student joined her sister as a team captain in 2005 and the two
worked together again in 2006. During these years the team added a Battle of
the Bands competition as another successful teen oriented fundraiser. Due to
the size and the scope of this team, a committee of team members was formed to
help coordinate the various fundraising efforts. The team was honored to
be invited on stage to sing the National Anthem at the opening of the 2006
Light the Night Walk in D.C.
2007 Mary leaves for college. Regan has
the help of Margaret Gertzog, a WTW senior and sister of one of Ryan's best
friends, to guide the 2007 Young Hearts team.
2008 The team poured their energy and
talents into a new fundraiser, Pippin. This musical, starring members of the Young Hearts
team, was directed by W. T. Woodson senior and Young Hearts committee member,
Matt Savoca. In April, The Young Hearts were the recipients of The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society's Chairman's Citation Award (which recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of individuals who have
demonstrated significant dedication and commitment to their chapter and are deserving of national
recognition). The team raised a record $50,000
for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk.
2008 The Young Hearts become a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Recognized as a non-profit, The Young Hearts Foundation is created and broadens its mission to provide moral and social support to young people suffering from medical issues (either their own or a family member's), as well as continuing to raise funds and awareness for a variety of medical causes.
2009 Once again, the team performed a
musical as a fundraiser for LLS. This year's production, A Year With Frog and Toad, was directed by W. T. Woodson junior, Mia Savoca. This was the 10th anniversary of the Young Hearts
participation in the D. C. Light the Night Walk and Regan's last year to be one
of the leaders of the team before leaving for college. Mary, a former Young Hearts team captain, coordinated a group of girls to donate their hair to Locks of Love, on stage at The Light The Night Walk. With the help of Alexandre of Alexandre de Paris Salon, 19 Young Hearts each donated at least 10 inches of their hair to make wigs for children suffering from medical hair loss. Even with the cold rain, The Young Hearts were in full force, and raised over $50,000 yet again.
2009 The
Young Hearts form a club at W. T. Woodson High School, and define themselves as a group of students dedicated to providing moral and social support to students who are dealing with challenges associated with medical issues (either their own or a family member's). Each year, The Young Hearts Club will participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk, as well as support other causes deemed meaningful to the student body from year to year.
2010 Mary, now a member of The Young Hearts' Board of Directors, becomes the youngest candidate to ever be nominated and participate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man & Woman of the Year campaign in the National Capital Area. A 10-week fund raising competition, The Man & Woman of the Year campaign challenges 20 local area professionals to raise as much money as possible in the short time allowed. The only college student to ever take on this challenge, Mary was First-Runner-Up, raising over $80,000, and was awarded the Community Involvement Award (thanks to the incredible support of The Young Hearts and the local community).
2010 Regan leaves for college. Claire Whitehead
assumes leadership of the Young Hearts Club at W.T. Woodson and the Young Hearts Light The Night team. The Young Hearts Club hosts a variety of fund raisers and events to support research and awareness for breast cancer, MS, and ALS, among others. In late 2010, The Young Hearts are awarded the "Relentless for a Cure Award" from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in recognition of continued dedication to The Light The Night Walk and the mission of LLS.
2011 The Young Hearts Club continues to support a few causes which are considered important to the W.T. Woodson community. In Fall 2011, The Young Hearts will be producing Souvenir!, a musical, which will feature W.T. Woodson choral director, Michael Ehrlich.
2011 Former Young Heart team member, Alexa Romano, becomes the second college student ever to participate in the Man & Woman of the Year campaign in the National Capital Area. Check out her campaign, Love & Memories.
The success of the Young Hearts lies with the many young team
members who volunteer their time and energy in support of the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society's mission. Our young volunteers are mostly high school
and middle school students as well as a few elementary school age students.
Some of the team members knew Ryan or know Ryan's family, and their support is
always appreciated. Some team members have been touched by cancer and
know all too well the heartache it can cause. Inspirational are the students
who have no connection to cancer, who just want to help those in need. A
day spent with these teenagers restores faith that our future is in good hands.
Each year the Young Hearts have been one of the top
fundraising teams in the metropolitan area. Each year, we've grown a little
stronger, a little bigger and more determined than the year before.
Though the team has much fun together, we never forget the purpose behind what
we do. We can't forget.
On December 5, 2005, we lost another young neighbor and friend, Cameron
McClain, to an unusual form of leukemia. Cameron was eight years old.
He also was a cherished member of our neighborhood community and an
inspiration for the Young Hearts.
In 2007, David McIntyre, one of our original Young Hearts,
relapsed with leukemia after being in remission for nine years. Though he
bravely fought leukemia for a second time, we are deeply saddened that our 16-year-old friend lost his battle on November 19, 2008.
We are told and we believe that much progress has been made in
treating leukemia and other forms of childhood cancer. But obviously
there is much more that needs to be done and it cannot be done too soon.
The Young Hearts invite you to help in the search for a cure. We
encourage you to join our team or start your own. Go to www.lightthenight.org to register. Together we will make a difference.
