Lanterns light way of blood cancer walkers

AFTER losing their father to a blood cancer four years ago one Ipswich family will be remembering him through the Light the Night walk.

Naomi and Damien Levao will take part in the Light the Night lantern walk for their late father Mike. . Picture: Rob Williams

AFTER losing their father to a blood cancer four years ago one Ipswich family will be remembering him through the Light the Night walk.

Damien and Naomi Levao will be remembering their father Mike by taking part in the walk carrying golden lanterns.

Thousands of people from across the south-east are expected to converge on South Bank in Brisbane on Wednesday night for the event.

Ms Levao said the walk was a chance to remember their father and help support people fighting blood cancers.

"Dad died in 2008 from lymphoma," she said.

"He was diagnosed with it in 2000, so he was fighting it for eight years before he died."

The walk isn't just for people who have lost someone to blood cancers. Different coloured lanterns are available for people differently affected by the disease.

White lanterns will be carried by blood cancer patients and survivors, blue lanterns by people supporting the cause and gold lanterns by people like the Levaos, who are remembering someone lost.

Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland chief executive Bill Petch said Light the Night had become a special night since it was first launched in 2008.

"Many people look forward to Light the Night as a chance to gather with their friends, families and others who understand the difficult journey faced by blood cancer patients," he said.

"Every year this positive and inspiring event attracts up to 2000 people to the South Bank venue.

"We are very proud of the fantastic support we have received in previous years and we look forward to seeing our regulars and some new faces joining us.

"Not only will participants share a special evening and learn more about the foundation's work, but any funds raised will ensure promising medical research can continue along with the provision of vital support services to patients and their families now and into the future."

Ms Levao said she hoped to see a lot of people from Ipswich make the trip into Brisbane for the walk.

"It's a great cause to get behind, it impacts so many people's lives," she said.

For further information about Light the Night, or to register for the event visit lightthenight.org.au.

Originally published as Lanterns light way of blood cancer walkers