Join in the Relay for Life
Stepping out to find cure of killer disease
AFTER watching cancer take hold of her mother, son and two brothers-in-law, Daphne Cassidy has formed a few opinions about the insidious diseases.
Together with family and friends, Mrs Cassidy will hold a vigil for cancer sufferers and help raise much needed dollars for research during this weekend’s Relay for Life event.
She said every member of her team had known someone who had died from cancer or was fighting it.
“We are doing the walk for one night at Relay For Life for them, and for those we’ve lost to cancer, so they know they’re not alone in the fight they face every night against the disease,” Mrs Cassidy said.
“We’re determined to fundraise as much as we can to help those who need it and find a cure for cancer.”
The bereaved mum said the Cancer Council was a tremendous help during son Matthew’s fight with testicular cancer, which he lost in May this year, and she urged everyone Relay for Life will be held at Barlow Park on July 29-30 and 86 teams have been registered to take part in the Cancer Council Queensland event. More information is available at fundraising.cancer.org.au to get checked for symptoms regularly.
“The earlier cancer is detected, the better chances of successful treatment. I would urge anyone who is experiencing something that is unusual to see their GP early,” she said.
Mrs Cassidy also believes there should be a level playing field for the cost of cancer treatments.
“Whether a patient is in a private health fund or not, once the patient is diagnosed with cancer they should be entitled to the same cost treatment as the public system,” she said. “It is not fair that some have to pay for all the costs and others get them for free.”
About 1430 Far North Queensland residents are diagnosed with cancer each year.