Shining a light on blood cancers

In colours of gold, white and blue, they'll be held aloft during a ceremony as part of the city's first Light the Night.

Organising the event is a passionate local group determined to raise awareness of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, the blood cancers with which they live.

The gathering of people and lanterns to be held at the Victoria Park rotunda on September 23 from 5.30pm to 8pm will also help the Leukaemia Foundation achieve its $1.25 million target, which will be used to fund projects in Australia's leading hospitals and research facilities.

Yesterday members of a Leukaemia Foundation support group at Dubbo encouraged the community to shine a lantern - gold to remember a loved one, white for their own journey or blue to show support for others.

Keith Beacroft of Dubbo will be there with a white lantern.

Four years ago he was diagnosed with myeloma, and with no cure available it is instead "manageable".

"I'm in remission - but we don't know how long that will last," he said.

The 74-year-old was determined and said it was important to have a positive attitude.

Mr Beacroft also remained optimistic that science could find a cure, saying "while there's life there's hope".

He will share more of his story at Dubbo's Light the Night, and he and fellow support group member Robyn Stack invited community members to come along to the event, where there will be music, and food and warm drinks for sale.

Registrations before the event are encouraged to help with catering and the supply of lanterns, but otherwise people can just come along, and lanterns will be available for $5 each.

Mrs Stack also advised that due to the Darling Street upgrade, pedestrian access to the park would be from Talbragar Street and Wingewarra Street.

More information is available by calling the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 500 088 or from lightthenight.org.au.