RYE BROOK, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When you or someone you love hears the words, "you have cancer," it's a very dark moment. Today, Gexa Energy, a leading Texas electricity provider based in Houston, is bringing light and hope to a local cancer patient, Kelli Shepard, a single mother diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a deadly form of blood cancer that has seen few advances in treatment in more than 40 years.  

When Gexa Energy president Brian Landrum learned of Kelli's situation, he decided to surprise her by offering her one full year of free electricity, to provide some financial relief to her and her family during her treatment. This generous gesture is a part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Random Acts of Light campaign, part of its powerful and unique fundraising campaign, Light The Night^® (www.LightTheNight.org).

As she battles this rare and aggressive leukemia, Kelli is on disability leave from work and has had to put her MBA pursuit on hold. She and her daughter have moved back home with her mother who will care for her grandchild as she begins kindergarten this September. Once Kelli has a stem cell transplant, she will be unable to see her daughter for at least 30 days. To make a challenging situation even more difficult, the family experienced an unexpected separation during Hurricane Harvey. While Kelli was admitted into a local medical center, her daughter and mother were safe at home, but could not visit each other for 10 days due to flooding.   

Landrum, corporate walk chair for the 2017 Light The Night Walk in Houston, explained, "We at Gexa are very pleased to offer Kelli a full year of electricity while she undergoes cancer treatment. We hope that taking this significant expense off her plate will help her focus on getting well.  Kelli's story has inspired all of us at Gexa, and we are proud to support her, and LLS at this year's Light The Night Walk."

LLS launched the Random Acts of Light initiative last summer and, to date, more than 25 patients and survivors across the country have been surprised with special moments, including some with favorite athletes and celebrities.  This unique gift of electricity is the perfect addition to this "movement" to shine the spotlight on the urgent need to fund research to advance new and better cancer treatments and cures, to assist patients in accessing treatment, and to create awareness for the impact of LLS in the cancer arena.

LLS's senior vice president for Light The Night, Coker Powell, explains, "With Random Acts of Light we're creating a platform to extend the impact of our Light The Night campaign beyond the fall walk season.  These random acts are truly bringing light and hope to people dealing with a blood cancer and who are feeling overwhelmed in the darkness that can come with a cancer diagnosis," she said.

"I am so grateful to Gexa Energy and LLS for arranging this generous and thoughtful surprise," said Kelli. "With the cost of treatment for my leukemia, my family's monthly expenses have increased far beyond reach. This gift will help ease the burden of the medical costs that have come with my recent diagnosis."

Since it began in 1999, Light The Night has helped LLS invest more than $1 billion in research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures for blood cancers. This fall, 150 Light The Night Walks will take place across North America; approximately one million walk participants carry illuminated lanterns – white in honor of survivors and the power of research, red in support of patients and finding cures, and gold in remembrance of those who have been lost.

For more information on Random Acts of Light visit http://www.lightthenight.org/ways/random-acts-light.

The 2017 Houston Light The Night is powered by Gexa Energy. The walk will take place on Friday, November 17, 2017, at Minute Maid Park.

To continue its support of this organization, Gexa Energy has announced a new plan for residential customers that will directly benefit LLS. To learn more visit http://www.gexaenergy.com/hope/.  

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

About Gexa Energy, LP

(PUCT # 10027) Since entering the Texas deregulated energy market in 2002, Gexa Energy, LP has established itself as one of the leading retail electricity providers for residential and commercial customers in the state of Texas. Gexa Energy, LP is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a leading clean energy company. For additional information about Gexa Energy, visit www.GexaEnergy.com or call 866-961-9399.

Contact: Kristin Hoose (914) 821 8973 Kristin.Hoose@lls.org

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SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society