Coming up on October 23, Yeatman's Cove will light up not just with lanterns, but with hope and solidarity at the 2025 Light the Night event. The evening is shaping up to be an emotional one, where locals gather to remember, honor, and celebrate those impacted by blood cancers. Adding to the night's significance, the Hoxworth Blood Center is teaming up with Blood Cancer United for a blood drive, converging the acts of commemoration and contribution.
Beginning at 3:15 p.m., the blood drive marks a first for Light the Night, aiming to directly support patients in need within the Greater Cincinnati area hospitals. Krystol Weidner, Hoxworth apheresis manager, highlighted the connection this event fosters between donors and recipients, saying, "Many blood cancer patients undergoing treatment at our local hospitals rely on life-saving products from Hoxworth donors," in a statement obtained by the University of Cincinnati. Revelers at Yeatman's Cove will have the opportunity to see their impact in real-time, as they donate blood and join the collective path toward a cure.
The Light the Night event, organized by Blood Cancer United, has turned into an annual tradition since its inception in 1993. Participants carry lanterns in a procession—white for survivors, red in support and gold honoring those passed—to raise both awareness and research funds. "Volunteers supporting Light the Night are helping Blood Cancer United’s work toward achieving our bold goal: By 2040, Blood Cancer United will enable blood cancer patients across the country to gain more than one million years of life," Dawn Berryman, executive director of Blood Cancer United's Ohio River Valley chapter, told the University of Cincinnati.
For those eager to make a difference, appointments for the blood drive can be scheduled via Hoxworth’s website. But be aware, the spots are expected to fill quickly, reflecting a community ready to roll up their sleeves. This local engagement forms part of a larger October push by the Hoxworth Blood Center, which includes events like the Cincinnati Fear Fest and the Cincinnati Comic Expo blood drives, both offering respective incentives such as fast passes and themed merchandise to those who donate.
