By EMILY IANNELLO
A TEAM of local residents will host a community walk on behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation to help brighten the lives of families affected by blood cancer.
General Manager of the Leukaemia Foundation Victoria Stephanie Hechenberger said Light the Night had grown to become “one of Australia’s most special events, with an atmosphere that inspires, encourages and empowers”.
More than 100 communities across Australia will gather at dusk during October for the uplifting event.
“We all need a little light in our lives. This sentiment couldn’t ring truer for more than 60,000 Australians living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders,” Ms Hechenberger said.
“While research is improving survival, blood cancer still claims more lives than breast cancer or melanoma. Every day, another 34 people are diagnosed and, sadly, one Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours.”
Highton Recreational Reserve will be turned into a twinkling landscape of hope as families and friends come together for a twilight walk.
Each person will carry one of three lanterns; gold to remember a loved one, white for their own blood cancer journey, or blue to show they care.
The national goal is to raise $1.5 million to enable the Leukaemia Foundation to continue providing free emotional and practical support for people living with blood cancer.
It will also enable the foundation to invest in research to improve treatments and find cures.
The Leukaemia Foundation receives no ongoing government funding and relies on community support to fund its work.
The fund-raiser will be held on 10 October at Highton Recreational Reserve from 6pm to 8.30pm.
