By DANE LILLINGSTONE
A Light the Night event was held at Stanthorpe to raise money for those affected by blood cancer.
The nationwide events are held in association with the Leukaemia Foundation to raise money and research and support for families affected by blood cancer.
The event invites people to light lanterns and walk to raise awareness.
Organiser Angie Sims worked with a bunch of people in the local community to get the event up and running including her husband Stuart, son Daniel, Fiona Patty, John and Julia Boucher and many other Stanthorpe locals.
Angie said the whole community got involved in the event on Saturday night, 19 September.
“It was really good with probably a couple hundred people who were all very generous,” she said.
“I just want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who supported the event from the businesses that gave prizes to the local community groups that jumped on board to provide sponsorship.”
Angie said there was more than $9500 raised from the event.
“I look forward to doing it again next year,” she said.
There are three different colour lanterns used during the event all with their own meaning.
Gold lanterns are carried to remember a loved one lost to blood cancer.
White lanterns are held as a sign of a person’s own battle with blood cancer and blue lanterns are taken by those who want to show that they care.
A total of 60,000 people are currently living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorder and 34 people are diagnosed each day with a form of blood cancer.
More events will be held nationwide on 9 October with simultaneous events in Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and most other major cities in Australia.
