By JODIE SYMONDS
LIGHT the Night in Lilydale was a success and raised thousands of dollars for cancer research and support.
The Mail reported last week that hundreds of people showed their support at the Light the Night walk at Lillydale Lake in Lilydale on 2 October.
Hundreds of red, gold and white lanterns were lit at sunset to show support and raise much-needed funds for blood cancer research.
The event is in its second year, with plans of another walk in 2016.
Organiser of the event, Brian Hodgson said this year’s walk was spectacular.
“We have raised over $23,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation,” Mr Hodgson said.
The reason Mr Hodgson got involved in the event was because blood cancer hits home with him.
“My sister-in-law is a blood cancer survivor so she was the main reason I wanted to be a part of this,” he said.
He said that Steven Hicks, a blood cancer survivor spoke, as well as Member for Evelyn Christine Fyffe who officially opened the event.
“It really was an event to not only raise awareness and money for such a good cause, but to also provide a sense of community and a place where people can come together to share stories,” Mr Hodgson said.
“I also would like to thank everybody that donated, and everybody that got involved in such a good cause,”
More than 3200 people are expected to be diagnosed with a form of blood cancer this year.
For more information on Light the Night, visit http://lightthenight.org.au/support.
For more information on the Leukaemia Foundation, visit http://www.leukaemia.org.au/.
