PHILADELPHIA -- The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society is getting ready for its annual Light the Night Walk.

The walk is designed to build awareness of blood cancers and raise funds for cures. Walkers carry illuminated balloons -- white for survivors and red for supporters -- to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer.

Blood cancer has affected the Schrader family of the Germantown area of Philadelphia.

Eight years ago after a routine blood test, Kathy Schrader got some bad news

"Went to the doctor for a standard routine checkup for my cholesterol. He did a series of blood work and I found out by happenstance I had chronic myelogenous leukemia," Schrader said.

CML results when a bone marrow stem cell becomes injured. It is different from other leukemias because of a genetic abnormality called the Philadelphia chromosome. Two Penn doctors discovered the chromosome in 1960.

"When I was first diagnosed, I found out the gold standard was a bone marrow transplant and luckily I had two of my four siblings matched, so I decided to do it," Schrader said.

But after the transplant, and the isolation that followed, Schrader's leukemia came back.

"For me, the relapse was more difficult than the first time of diagnosis because I knew the transplant was the gold standard. I did really well through it, and I was sure it was done, it was gone, it was done, it was something in the past," Schrader said.

Schrader tried other medicines, but they didn't work either. Her family was there for her through it all. She has needed it. Next, Schrader was involved in clinical trials with the wonder drug Gleevac.

"It worked for me partially. I never got a 100 percent response. I got a 70 percent response, and that worked for about two years and then my counts were rising again," Schrader said.

Now, Cathy is on a waiting list for another clinical trial, and she plans to walk in this year's Light the Night Walk to raise money for more research into blood cancers.

"It's just a night of hope and love and raising money," Schrader said.

Anyone can take part. Children, adults and seniors are all welcome. This is a casual walk with no fitness requirements. If you want to participate, click on the link below for your state to find a walk near you.

Find A Walk Near You In Eastern Pennsylvania

Find A Walk Near You In Southern New Jersey

Find A Walk Near You In Delaware