HUNDREDS of Sunraysia residents are expected to gather at Nowingi Place tomorrow evening for the third annual Light the Night.
Light the Night aims to raise vital funds for The Leukaemia Foundation and spread awareness of blood cancers.
One of the organisers Natasha Lyttleton will spend the evening remembering her best friend and sister Suzanne Thomas, who died of acute myeloid leukemia in 2016, only a few months before the first event.
“The support my family and my sister received from The Leukaemia Foundation was really important,” she said.
“They helped with accommodation, taxis and it helped for my sister to just have that extra support from someone coming to visit her while in Melbourne.
“Knowing the support they provide pushes me to help that next family who will go through it.”
The event has continued to increase in popularity with just over 200 attending the first year and more than 500 last year.
“We are hoping for even more this year,” Ms Lyttleton said.
“With almost every second person diagnosed with blood cancer or just any cancer this event is about showing up to support others.”
Along with the lantern walk, there will be live entertainment from local band JatzCrackers, as well as market stalls, food vans, a raffle and auction.
The event begins at 5.30pm with lantern collection, followed by the lantern raising ceremony at 9pm and the lantern walk at 9.15pm, before wrapping up at 10pm.
