Port Macquarie locals are invited to carry a lantern alongside friends, family and patients at Westport Park on October 20 at the Leukaemia Foundation’s Light the Night fundraiser.
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The walk begins at 5.30pm. Organiser Sarah Toohey said Light The Night is not just about fundraising; it is about showing current fighters of Leukaemia that they are not alone.
“It is about getting together as a community to show people that in their darkest hour, we will stand with them, we will fight with them and that Port Macquarie can come together for just one night and help them forget about their struggles - even if it's just one night,” she said.
There will be night markets, musical entertainment and the drawing of the major raffle.
Prizes will be given for best dressed, most colourful and for a family that dresses most like each other.
The reason Sarah is so passionate about this event and why she stepped forward to host this year is because of her uncle.
“He was diagnosed with leukaemia. While he does not receive any assistance from the Leukaemia foundation, his attitude is that he is doing fine and someone else who is worse off needs the help more than he does,” she said.
“That made me realise that if anything ever happened to him, I would want him to have the option of any support he needed and that support needs our help to keep going.”
The event has been going since 2011 but only a handful have been held in Port Macquarie.
Barb Evans was diagnosed with leukaemia, and twelve months ago a stem cell transplant from a 28 year old lady from Western Australia saved her life.
“Within days of my diagnosis the Leukaemia foundation where in contact to help,” she said.
“They were very good. They continually texted and emailed throughout the whole process.
“I had nothing to do with the walk before hand, but now it’s opened my eyes. I’m very lucky because it has been all uphill since I was diagnosed.”