Take steps to fight cancer
WALKING through the Noosa night on June 2-3 to help fight cancer is as much an act of defiance as it is a desire to help Cancer Council Queensland for Sue Arnold and her family.
Sue's family carries a burden few families have to live with - a rare genetic gene called Le Frauimani Syndrome - which is a likely cancer trigger.
In 2008 her now 23-year-old son Scott was the fourth member of the family to receive a cancer diagnosis - in his case, sarcoma, which he has been dealing with while completing his butcher's apprenticeship with Woolworths in Noosaville.
Sue's late husband was diagnosed with cancer 16 years ago and lost his battle.
"My first husband was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 1996 and underwent a number of gruelling treatments including a bone marrow transplant," she said.
"The diagnosis had a huge impact on our family because we had no idea that it was coming and sadly he passed away just 12 months later."
Sue said Scott has been tested for the gene and unfortunately he has it, which means it is possible that he could end up contracting cancer again.
Her two daughters Lauren and Stacey Kilgower are both in their 20s and are yet to be tested, but if they are found to be carrying Le Frauimani Syndrome, it could be passed on to any future children.
Rather than simply accept their fate, the family is taking some positive steps by walking as a family in the Relay for Life along with Sue's husband Dave.
Sue has gone even further and is on the organising committee for the inaugural event and she said Cancer Council Queensland is urgently calling for 13 more teams to register for the relay to be held
at Sunshine Beach State Primary School oval.
"The relay is such a fabulous community event - it allows you to have great fun and enjoyment with a sense of purpose and achievement by assisting with fundraising for a cancer cure," she said.
Sue said dealing with their health problems has been made possible through the support and counselling offered by the Cancer Council.
"In the case of Scott, they've arranged for someone closer his age to help him," Sue said.
"The hardest thing is that Le Frauimani Syndrome is such a rare thing that not a lot of doctors know much about it.
"Scott underwent treatment and is now recovering but when things like this hit close to home it really inspires you to do whatever you can to make a difference."
Noosa Relay For Life's primary goal is to raise much-needed funds for cancer research and support.
"We aim to raise $5000 and hope that others in the community will get involved," Sue said.
"We want to do whatever we can to make sure that others don't have to experience the heartache of a cancer diagnosis and if we keep supporting great causes like this, hopefully one day we will have a cure."
Cancer Council Queensland Relay For Life co-ordinator Sara Morley said it was not too late to register and take part in Noosa's Relay For Life.
"The people of Noosa rely on us to help prevent, detect, effectively treat, and survive cancer, and community events such as Relay For Life allow us to continue this vital work," Ms Morley said.
Cancer is something which touches everyone in some way.
Register for this year's event by calling (07) 5451 6000 or by visiting relayforlife.org.au.
All funds raised by the Noosa Relay For Life will support Cancer Council Queensland's important work in cancer research, education programs and provision of patient support services.
