Old Bar Beach Festival’s Light the Night, for the Leukaemia Foundation’s annual fundraising lantern walk is on this Saturday October 1.
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The walk commences at 6pm from the main stage.
The walk allows supporters and survivors to carry a lantern to help more Australians beat blood cancer by improving survival rates and quality of life.
Every day 35 people are diagnosed with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorders and they’ll turn to the Leukaemia Foundation for help. This October, thousands of Australians nationally will come together at the Leukaemia Foundation’s Light the Night to help more people beat blood cancer.
Now in its ninth year, Light the Night aims to raise $2 million to give affected families the emotional support they need and to fund vital blood cancer research which focuses on delivering better outcomes for patients and improving their quality of life.
Last year 30,000 people attended walks around the country, each person shining a special lantern:
- Gold, to remember a loved one
- White, for their own blood cancer journey, or
- Blue, to support others
Chris McMillan Leukaemia Foundation’s general manager for NSW/ACT said, blood cancer doesn’t discriminate and is claiming more lives than breast cancer and melanoma.
“Sadly, most of us know someone who’s been affected by blood cancer,” said Chris.
“It can develop in anyone, of any age, at any time. More than 60,000 Australians are living with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
“The Leukaemia Foundation helps families around Australia through services such as emotional support from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond; accommodation during their loved one’s weeks and months of treatment in the city; as well as transport to and from chemotherapy – all at no cost to them.”
To help the Leukaemia Foundation reach its $2-million goal, every adult who signs up for a Light the Night walk is being asked to raise $100.
“Every $100 raised can cover the costs of giving a family immediate emotional support to help them through the shock of being diagnosed, and one hour of blood cancer research,” said Chris.
“Walking in solidarity is a good feeling, but it is only by raising funds that family and friends can help the Leukaemia Foundation continue to give families affected by blood cancer the emotional support they need, and fund research to help more Australians survive their disease and have a better quality of life.”
Lanterns can be purchased at the Old Bar Beach Festival.