Small in size but not in spirit, the weekend’s Light the Night events attracted intimate crowds driven by a need to find a cure for blood cancer.
At Morwell’s Light the Night fundraiser, held on Friday, about 40 people gathered for a community barbecue and lantern parade.
Organiser Narelle Reilly, who lost her husband and father of her two children to cancer, described the night as a “special journey”.
“When I did my speech I had a couple of tears because it was so emotional to me,” Ms Reilly said.
“I had a message from my church saying (husband) Justin was with me and he was very proud of me, and I shined from within.”
About $500 dollars was raised through lantern sales at the event, while a barbecue, show bag stall and community donations also contributed funds to the Leukaemia Foundation.
Ms Reilly said she organised the annual event because she knew the importance of the Leukaemia Foundation and wanted “people to know they aren’t alone when facing this journey”.
“Morwell Light the Night will definitely return next year,” she said.
“It is something I want to do every year.”
At a similar Light the Night event in Traralgon’s Mayfair Gardens Easy Living Village on Sunday, residents raised $1628 towards blood cancer research.
A village spokesperson said there was a good turnout, with 32 residents attending the event despite severe weather warnings.
She said this was a “fantastic effort” by the village given most of the funds were raised by the residents through donations and the sale of lanterns.
“As (the) majority of the Mayfair Gardens residents are over the age of 55 and predominantly pensioners, it just goes to show the generosity of the residents who wished to show their support for such a worthy foundation,” the spokesperson said.
Community members who would like to donate to the Leukaemia Foundation can do so at www.lightthenight.org.au
