Pictured at the Long Branch Light the Night Launch Event at MMC’s LiveWell Center are, from left, President and CEO Eric Carney; Manager of Cancer Services Felesia Gathers; Vice President of Oncology Services Julie Chaudhuri; Blood Cancer Specialist Dr. Hussam Eltoukhy; patient Gene Richardson; Regional Director of Cancer Services Jeanette Luque; and Medical Director of Oncology Services for the RWJBarnabas Health Southern Region Dr. Seth Cohen.
Eatontown, N.J., June 20, 2025 - Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) recently hosted a Long Branch Light the Night Leadership Launch event to share information about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and one of their most powerful programs, Light The Night.
Serving as Corporate Walk Chair for the 2025 Long Branch Light the Night Walk, which will be held Saturday October 4th at The Great Lawn in Pier Village, is Eric Carney, President and CEO of MMC in Long Branch and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood. More than 80 community members gathered at MMC’s LiveWell Center at the Anne Vogel Family Care and Wellness Center in Eatontown to hear him present an overview of the walk and the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Light The Night is one of the largest and fastest-growing charity fundraising programs in the nation,, according to Carney. He said in the last 30 years, Light The Night participants and volunteers all over the country have raised $1 billion to push forward LLS’s mission including right here in our local community, and last year, LLS awarded over $1 million to 560 patients in need through the LLS financial assistance programs here in Central New Jersey.
“In Long Branch, we are committed to doing our part,” he said. “Every fall, our local Light The Night community comes together to celebrate the strength of our patients and families, and to raise funds for LLS. That local community consists of companies, friends, families, schools, community organizations, sponsors and individuals, including some of the very people in this room today, including the 2024 Corporate Walk Co-Chairs, Sharon Danielson & Anthony Giordano, from OceanFirst Bank.”
Blood Cancer Specialist Dr. Hussam Eltoukhy, who is serving as a Walk Captain for the Light the Night Long Branch event, also provided remarks at the launch event, who shared why the LLS mission means so much to him.
Pictured at the Long Branch Light the Night Launch Event at MMC’s LiveWell Center are, from left, Eric Carney, President and CEO of Monmouth Medical Center and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus; Tinton Falls Mayor Risa Clay, Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul and Long Branch Mayor John Pallone.
“Cancer removes certainty from people’s lives, and my job is to be a guide, a steady voice, and sometimes just a listening ear,” he said. “I’ve seen firsthand how devastating cancer diagnoses can be-not just medically, but in every part of a person’s life. I’ve had patients who have had to sell their cars to pay for treatment, or who didn’t even have stable housing during therapy. This is why organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma society are so critical.”
Dr. Eltoukhy said he has turned to LLS for help many times whether it’s for their financial assistance programs, their free, educational booklets that he keeps in his offices, or their trusted website that gives patients reliable information, instead of the confusion they might find on Google.
“This is my first time participating in Light the Night, and I became involved with this effort and I support LLS because I have directly seen the tremendous positive impact this organization has on my patients’ lives,” he said. “For me, Light the Night is not just about raising funds - it represents an opportunity to stand in solidarity with my patients, families, and colleagues. I believe that our involvement sends a powerful message of support and unity, helping patients feel less isolated in their fight.”
The event also featured comments by blood cancer patient Gene Richardson, who thanked Dr. Eltoukhy and the MMC Cancer Services’ team for the lifesaving care he received following his diagnosis.
To support Long Branch Light the Night or learn more about the event, visit Light the Night Long Branch.
Contact: Kathy Horan
732-546-6317
kathy.horan@rwjbh.org