Running in support of blood cancer awareness
A Leukaemia Foundation team will be running to support blood cancer patients this Sunday at the Sun Herald City 2 Surf, including three girls with very personal connections to the diseases.
Venessa Pattullo was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2004, however sadly this is not the first case of the blood cancer in her family. Her youngest brother Vincent passed away from the disease at only 8 years old.
In August 2010, Venessa was 6 years into her remission and ran in the City 2 Surf for the first time, raising over $8,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. In 2011 Venessa unexpectedly relapsed and while she was recovering from a bone marrow transplant, her sister Veronica participated in the City 2 Surf on her behalf. She raised over $13,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation and was the third highest individual fundraiser overall!
This year both sisters will be running to celebrate her recovery and remember their brother Vincent.
‘The Leukaemia Foundation provided practical and emotional support for me. They arranged drivers to pick me up and take me to and from doctors appointments and treatment when I was too weak to drive myself,’ said Venessa.
‘The volunteer drivers even visited me in hospital just to chat to me and provide a distraction. They were a listening ear to get all my worries off my chest.’
Also running for the Leukaemia Foundation this weekend is Stephanie Sinton, whose father was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) only a few months ago.
Within a few days of her father’s diagnosis, Stephanie’s family had to relocate 1600km’s so that he could commence treatment in a metropolitan hospital leaving their family, friends, pets and banana farming business behind.
‘The support we received from the Leukaemia Foundation was almost immediate. The compassionate staff assisted my family to understand Dad’s prognosis and treatment and we were welcomed into the Foundation’s accommodation complex near the hospital which is designed as a home away from home for patients, carers and families,’ Stephanie said.
‘The Leukaemia Foundation has provided exceptional care and support at a very fearful and stressful time for my family. We now know first-hand the wonderful work that the Leukaemia Foundation does in helping those confronted with the disease and I feel highly motivated to give back.’
Stephanie has already raised over $15,000 and will be running to cheer on her Dad, support the work of the Leukaemia Foundation and raise awareness of the work they do.
The money raised by these girls will help the Leukaemia Foundation support patients and their families affected by blood cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.
For more information, media details, photo opportunities or interviews, please contact:
Lisa Champion
Marketing & Communications Manager
(02) 9902 2225
lchampion@leukaemia.org.au
