More than 110,000 Australians are affected by blood cancer, and people in regional Australia are more likely to lose their lives because of difficulty accessing treatment. This Saturday night at 8pm, the Leukaemia Foundation will hold its first virtual Light the Night lantern ceremony to show support for those afflicted.
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Among the thousands of Australians taking part are local Moss Vale resident Fiona and her family, who will host their own Light the Night event at home.
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Fiona hopes to raise $1000 for blood cancer treatment and research. Her fundraising page is here: https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegistrationID=795526
"Funds raised through this special event provide families facing blood cancer with the care needed to make it through every scary, uncertain moment that follows a diagnosis," Fiona wrote.
"Donations also transform fear into hope in miraculous, life-changing ways by furthering the work of brilliant research scientists.
"This research is saving lives right now as it continues to discover faster diagnostics and even better treatments for people with blood cancer."
This year, Fiona will host the Light the Night event in her backyard in Moss Vale and will light up a blue lantern.
Across Australia
The national event will be hosted and livestreamed by popular media personality Osher Gunsberg.
Mr Gunsberg said he was proud to support the Leukaemia Foundation and to give back to the organisation that supported his mum during her battle with blood cancer.
Osher's mother battled the blood cancer myeloma also known as multiple myeloma for several years, but sadly died from the disease in 2018.
"When my mum was battling myeloma, a highlight of her week was the support from her Sunday walks with the Leukaemia Foundation's [volunteers]," Osher said. "She felt so much support, so much solidarity and was full of gratitude.
"Not a day goes by that I don't miss my mum; however, I'm grateful for the lessons she has taught me during that time."
For 13 years, Light the Night has been the only Australian event that brings the country's entire blood cancer community together, including patients, their families, carers and friends and members of the medical and research communities to stand united in support for each other and a shared hope for a future free from blood cancer.
Every day, 47 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer including myeloma, lymphoma and leukaemia. The Leukaemia Foundation's latest State of the Nation: Blood Cancer in Australia report confirms that in just 15 years, by 2035, this number will more than double to 100 people per day.
But regional blood cancer patients aren't receiving the crucial diagnostics and specialist care they need, when they need it, and are more likely to face barriers in getting this care.
Four in 10 Australians diagnosed with blood cancer live in regional and remote areas, and more lose their life to the disease than their city-based counterparts due to challenges and disparities in accessing treatment and care.
By breaking down these barriers and removing variations in access to best practice treatment and care, Australia could save up to 22,000 lives by 2035.
Light the Night is free to attend. All fundraising through the event provides precious relief for families affected by blood cancer, as well as supporting the Leukaemia Foundation to work towards achieving zero lives lost to blood cancer by 2035.
To register or for more information, visit https://lightthenight.org.au/ or phone 1800 500 088.
The Leukaemia Foundation stands with Australia to help cure and conquer blood cancer - with care.
"Together we are attacking every blood cancer, from every direction, in every way we can. We stand beside every Australian to be their voice and their someone-to-turn-to, fighting to get them access to the best care. We also accelerate research that's delivering rapid advancements in blood cancer diagnosis and treatments. Plus, we provide services and support that empower people living with any blood cancer to live well after diagnosis."
You can learn more about the Leukaemia Foundation and blood cancer at https://leukaemia.org.au.
