Melissa Brookes was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer at the age of 37, where she battled the disease for seven years.
It had already spread to other organs, but she "fought really hard to stay alive" and has been cancer free for almost five years.
She knows about the struggles people with lung cancer face and wanted to give them, loved ones and others the space to connect.
The survivor is holding an event for Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) to raise awareness and break the stigmas surrounding the disease, and honour those who have lost their lives to it.
The Shine a Light on Lung Cancer event will take place at Bowral's Glebe Park on November 25.
"I thought it was about time to give something back to the community and raise awareness for lung cancer and its insidiousness... and [its] capacity to take lives very swiftly," she said.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the disease was the biggest cancer killer in 2022, and the fifth leading cause of death nationwide.
Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare between 2017 and 2021 revealed it was the fourth highest cause of death for men, and the fifth for women in the Highlands.
The LFA has raised funds for research through the Shine the Light campaign for more than a decade.
LFA CEO Christa Bayer said the foundation has advocated for an early detection screening program that would improve one's five-year survival rate by almost 70 per cent, if it was detected at stage one.
"While we can finally say we have achieved that goal, our work is far from over," she said.
"This year alone, more than 14,529 Australian families will be touched by lung cancer."
Another priority for the foundation has been investing in specialist nurses.
There will be a lantern ceremony where all attendees can light them in Bowral.
Purple lanterns represent those who are remembering someone who died from the disease, orange signifies those who live with lung cancer, and green lanterns are for those extending their support.
"I wanted to create a space where people could be heard," Ms Brookes said.
The ceremony will be followed by a walk.
She also wanted people to know that there is still hope and the importance of supporting one another.
"I think it's really important to have people in your corner who care for you and look after you," she said.
To donate or register, head to fundraise.lungfoundation.com.au.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark our website
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular newsletters
Briannah Devlin
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
