Hundreds of people walked around Lake Weeroona at dusk on Friday in support of Light the Night.
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Hosted by the Bendigo Canoe Club, it raised funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. The event raised almost $50,000 in its first four years with organisers Ash Browell and Tyler Lowe hoping to push to $60,000 this year.
People who walked the lake carried white, yellow or blue lanterns depending on if they were a blood cancer survivor, remembering a loved one or walking in support. Families and friends also enjoyed food, activities and live music at the event.
"We try and have family friendly carnival atmosphere where people come to eat and play and have fun before the lighting ceremony and reflective walk around the lake," Tyler said.
Money raised will support families and go to research.
Experience unites Light the Night Bendigo organisers
Light the Night Bendigo organisers Ash Browell and Tyler Lowe have had very different blood cancer experiences but are united by their efforts to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.
The pair started working on the Bendigo event five years ago.
Tyler had recently returned to Bendigo after 12 months of treatment for lymphoma while Ash got involved after her father passed away from leukaemia.
"I'd been recovering and heard about (the Bendigo Light the Night)," Tyler said. "Ash had also heard about it and that's where we met."
Since joining forces the pair have raised thousands of dollars for the Leukaemia Foundation.
"We organised the first event in five weeks and I thought it would be great to raise about $3000 but we raised more than $12,000 in the first year," Ash said.
Ash was 12 when her father passed away but she remembers everything clearly.
"He had leukaemia for four years and mum and dad moved to Melbourne while my brother and I stayed in Bendigo with my grandparents," she said. "We travelled to Melbourne every Friday and I still remember sitting in hospital having great time with dad even though he was really sick."
Tyler went through bone marrow and stem cell transplants during her treatment.
"I have been in remission for five years this month," she said. "It's been a rough ride and it affects me every day but you have just got to let your self have those days, have those cries, eat those boxes of biscuits and keep going."
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