November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and during the first weekend Shine a Light on Lung Cancer walks will be held in dozens of locations nationally including Gosford.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Donna Grieve, who has been with Central Coast Local Health District for 17 years, is hosting this year’s Shine a Light on Lung Cancer walk along Gosford waterfront on November 5.
The walk aims to bring awareness and show support to those battling lung cancer, as well as raising much-needed funds to go towards research for faster diagnosis, more reliable and efficient treatments, and the ultimate goal – a cure.
“I am very excited to be the host of this year’s Central Coast walk and hope we can get large groups to participate,” Grieve said.
“The more people that can register to participate and raise funds the better.”
During the walk, participants have the option of lighting a Lung Foundation Australia lantern offered in three colours – purple for remembering a loved one, orange for a person living with lung cancer or green to show support for the lung cancer community.
Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in Australia – more than breast, prostate and ovarian cancers combined.
Twenty-five people a day die from lung cancer, which has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer in Australia, yet over a third of people consider lung cancer sufferers to be their own worst enemy and one-in-10 will say they got what they deserved because of the association with tobacco smoking.
Lung Foundation Australia Acting CEO Christa Bayer said Shine a Light was the organisation’s largest annual fundraiser, with walkers aiming to raise $175,000 for lung health this year.
“During November, we invite every Australian touched by lung cancer to join us for a Shine a Light Walk held in locations across the country,” Bayer said.
“The community walks aim to raise awareness, break stigma, and provide a place of support to give hope and honour those we love.”
Ms Bayer said for more than five years Lung Foundation Australia advocated for a screening program that would help address the inequitable outcomes for Australia’s biggest cancer killer.
“While we can finally say we have achieved that goal, our work is far from over, she said.
“This year alone, more than 14,529 Australian families will be touched by lung cancer.
“We know the lung cancer screening program will save thousands of lives.”
“If Australians with lung cancer are diagnosed at Stage I, their five-year survival rate nears 70 per cent.”
The Central Coast Walk will be held at the Lions Park, Gosford Waterfront, between 6pm and 7pm.
For further information you can refer to the Lung Foundation Shine a Light webpage https://fundraise.lungfoundation.com.au/shinealightonlungcancer
Source:
Lung Foundation Australia