Anne Simmons
Some of the Latrobe Valley’s biggest country music fans are continuing their dedication to raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation with Traralgon’s ninth annual Light the Night event in October.
Our Kinda Country secretary Dawn O’Connell said she learnt at a recent visit to the charity’s headquarters in Melbourne that the group had raised $48,000 for the cause since its beginnings a decade ago.
“For a little club like us we’re pretty chuffed,” Ms O’Connell said.
The twilight lantern walk is one of Our Kinda Country’s biggest fundraising events for the year in addition to regular open mic nights in Morwell.
The group felt compelled to contribute to bone cancer research when their friend, Ryan Gunn was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager.
Ms O’Connell said he was going to receive a bone marrow transplant – a process which required isolation from family.
“Ryan was going to be in Peter Mac for a month and our first fundraiser for leukaemia or for anybody involved with it was to raise money to put a computer in Ryan’s dad’s house and in Ryan’s hospital room so they could actually chat,” Ms O’Connell said.
She said 12 people showed up at the first Light the Night in Traralgon.
“It was the most moving, most incredible thing and since then we fundraise wherever we can,” she said.
For Light the Night, people carry lanterns on a community walk, with different colours representing each personal encounter with leukaemia.
A gold lantern is to remember a loved one lost to blood cancer, a white light is for those diagnosed and blue is for general support for the cause.
Light the Night will be at Victory Park, Traralgon on Saturday, October 6.
There will be live music, a coffee truck, market stalls, kids’ entertainment and support from Traralgon Lions Club.
Pledge to raise $20 and receive a free lantern, while kids receive free balloons.
To register, visit lightthenight.org.au/events/traralgon.
