Blackbutt mother Natasha Jauncey is in remission after a four-year battle with Hodgkin lymphoma – and on Saturday she lit a white lantern to celebrate life.
Her touching tribute joined a sea of lanterns surrounding Wollongong lighthouse as part of the third annual Light the Night walk to support the Leukaemia Foundation.
Gold lanterns shone in memory of those who had lost their battles with blood cancer; white represented a personal journey while people lit blue lanterns to show their support.
Ms Jauncey, the event’s 2015 ambassador, said the Leukaemia Foundation had provided her with information and advice, as well as practical support.
On Saturday evening, she was joined by fellow ambassadors David Campbell and Margaret Biggs who have both lost spouses to blood cancer.
Ms Biggs said more than 600 people had attended the event, with organisers well on their way to reach the $50,000 fundraising goal.
‘’The funds go towards the work of the Leukaemia Foundation for research into all types of blood cancer including myeloma and lymphoma,’ Mrs Biggs said.
‘’It also goes to support services that the foundation offers to the local community.
‘’Personally the support of the foundation through my husband’s terminal battle with acute myeloid leukaemia was invaluable as we navigated something of which we had no knowledge.’’
Ms Biggs said the atmosphere was ‘’very peaceful and very hopeful’’ at Saturday’s event.
‘’These kind of events raise funds for the research that is happening all over the world, and in Australia, which is leading to breakthroughs in treatment and getting us one step closer to a cure,’’ she said.
People can still donate at www.lightthenight.org.au