GOLD, white and blue lanterns will illuminate the track at Lake Weeroona tomorrow night, as people raise money and support for research to beat blood cancer.
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The Light the Night campaign assists the Leukaemia Foundation.
More than 35,000 people are expected to attend Light the Night events, nationwide, tomorrow night.
The lantern walks start as darkness falls.
At least 200 people are expected to participate in Light the Night in Bendigo this year.
Each of the coloured lanterns people will see shining in the dark at Lake Weeroona tomorrow night represents a story.
Ashlee Browell has carried a gold lantern each year in memory of her father, jockey Colin Browell, who died of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2005.
But he won’t be the only person she’s thinking of as she hosts the Leukaemia Foundation fundraiser.
Two days after promoting this year’s event on Facebook, Miss Browell learned that a family friend’s son had been diagnosed with blood cancer.
He is nine years old.
“This is why I’m doing it, as well,” Miss Browell said.
“You never know what’s going to happen to our or someone in your life.”
One person is diagnosed with a blood cancer in Australia every 41 minutes.
Sixty-thousand people in Australia are living with the devastating impact of blood cancer, according to the Leukaemia Foundation.
Participants in tomorrow night’s event will include people who have been diagnosed blood cancer, carrying white lanterns; people whose loved ones have had blood cancer, bearing yellow lanterns; and supporters from the general community, with blue lanterns.
Miss Browell said all were welcome to join in and support research to help beat blood cancer.
Participants will be able to collect their lanterns and enjoy live music and entertainment from 5pm, ahead of a 6.15pm welcome.
The event finishes at 8.30pm.
For more information or to donate, visit lightthenight.org.au/events/bendigo
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