Chas (l to r) & Hunter, sons of Corp’s Jan Sharp, walk with CBC in honor of their Mom, along with their grandma Becky.
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View the Slideshows:It’s official. CBC’s efforts for The Light the Night Walks in Raleigh & Durham for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern North Carolina paid off in spades. The collective CBC teams raised a grand total of $15,419.95, knocking the top out of our $15K goal.
As of the posting of this capcom story, CBC remains the Top Fundraising Team of the Light the Night walks in the Triangle. CBC served as the presenting sponsor for the events, and CBC President & CEO Jim Goodmon served as Chair for the walks.
When CBC first embarked on fulfilling our duties as presenting sponsor the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk for 2009, HR Benefits Administrator Van Williams had a special reason for helping. She beat an almost year-long battle with lymphoma not too long ago, making her the perfect person to spearhead the CBC effort.
However, the same day as the kick-off and informational meeting for the CBC Team Captains for the walk, Corporate VP of HR Jan Sharp got the news that her lymphoma was not going away.
 CBC’ers brave the cold to walk in Durham (l to r): Jennifer & her Mom, Corp’s Angela Francioni, Corp’s Mary Eaton & her husband, Larry, and Corp’s Van Williams. |
 Wool E. Bull helps liven things up in Durham. |
We could’ve never known that while we were fighting to raising money, that Jan would be fighting an unwinnable battle with the very beast we’re working to stamp out. After the news Sharp got on that kick-off day, Williams and and her Co-Chair, HR Corporate Communications Specialist Andrea Osborne, looked at one another and said that the entire perspective on this CBC effort had changed. The pair would now be cheerleading Light the Night for their boss.
“It’s overwhelming to have raised so much money and had so many people join us in walking for Jan and the many others we know with leukemia & lymphoma,” said Osborne. “CBC’ers have truly stepped up to the plate in a big way, and it means so much.”
The cold wind whipped bitterly, but their was an aura of warmth around the CBC tent at the Raleigh Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Saturday, October 17, 2009.
The employees who walked in Durham on Thursday, October 22nd enjoyed a much kinder version of Mother Nature. Comparatively balmy temperatures met those who gathered under the Lucky Strike water tower at American Tobacco.
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When asked to serve as Chair in this year’s corporate campaign for LLS walk, I was honored to have been given the opportunity to support such a worthy cause. The event was personal to me for many reasons…After being diagnosed in the 4th stage of Lymphoma in 2006 it was difficult to process that I would once again be faced with this disease with my boss. As she continues to fight for her survival, being able to participate in the LTN walk provided an opportunity for me to show support for her in a very special way. Is there a cause? Absolutely! Many have been impacted by these diseases and the LLS is committed to providing continual support for patients and their families. I am thankful to God everyday for a 2nd chance at life and look forward to supporting LTN events in the future.” -Corp’s Van Williams, CBC’s Light the Night Co-Chair |
Employees walked for loved ones lost and those battling leukemia & lymphoma. One Durham employee walked in memory of her grandmother, while a Raleigh employee walked for her 19-year-old niece who was newly diagnosed with leukemia last spring.
All employees were bonded by their support of Sharp. A group of Sharp’s friends, neighbors and church members joined her sons, Chas and Hunter, and her stepmom, Becky, as they showed solidarity with CBC for the cause at the Raleigh walk. All donned blue ribbons in her honor.
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| CBC shows support for Jan Sharp in their tent, as well as showing that all the company’s many divisions support Light the Night. | |
CBC’ers from each division served as captains for teams and did a stellar job with numerous fundraisers and never-ending passion for the cause.
“The fruit of your labor has certainly been demonstrated through your hard work, dedication and commitment to this cause,” Williams told them. “There are NO words to express our heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for your support towards this effort. Your devotion and enthusiasm far exceeded our expectations…’Thank You’ for a job well done!!”
 Corp’s Van Williams (center) gets set to walk in Durham with ATC’s Holly Wolfe (right) & ATC’s Heather Gray. |
WRAL-TV Anchor Gerald Owens emceed the program before each walk, and American Tobacco VP of Real Estate Michael Goodmon welcomed the crowd in Durham on behalf of his father.
Sharp is now home, where she has been for most of our Light the Night campaign. Thanks to Hospice and the wonderful care of her family and friends, she can be home. She now lies in a hospital bed in her den. She constantly thanks Williams & Osborne and passes along thanks to the CBC Team Captains and all who walked and raised money.
This is personal. This fight wasn’t for some nameless people. It was for one of our very own VPs.
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