Hope blooms this Daffodil Day

AS the thirty-sixth Daffodil Day approaches on Thursday, 25 August, those who have been touched by cancer are encouraging the community to support the Cancer Council’s appeal to boost research.

Erin Dern’s father, Russell Foster, was diagnosed with stage-four terminal cancer in 2017, and died within three months.

“It was a big shock to us. He had been a perfectly healthy man,” she said.

“We love and miss him so much. It’s so important to keep his name alive and make sure that everybody understands the legacy that he’s left behind, and the fight he made to try and stay here.

“I have two children who sadly didn’t get to meet him, but I have one young man who really loves his grandfather and is very proud of him.”

Based in Smythes Creek, Mrs Dern and her children are keen fundraisers for the Cancer Council and their Daffodil Day Appeal, supporting the organisation to help find a cure.

In the past, she shaved off her long hair, led Biggest Morning Teas, and Daffodil Day initiatives at her local footy club to generate money for the cause.

“We don’t want anybody else to continue to feel the pain that we do, so if I see anything to do with the Cancer Council, I like to get involved in it,” she said.

“Losing somebody who means the whole world to your family should never happen. We need to try and stop that from happening. Fundraising is a small thing I can do, and anyone else can do, to help.

“I encourage everybody to donate if they can, no matter how much it is. Everybody is affected by cancer, or will be at some stage.”

Data from the Cancer Council reports an average of 673 people receive a cancer diagnosis in Ballarat annually, and more broadly, 11,360 Victorians died in 2020 having lived with it.

Cancer Council Victoria CEO Todd Harper said the disease impacts everyone.

“It’s why this year, we’re calling on Victorians to give hope to those impacted by cancer by funding vital cancer research that is saving lives every day,” he said.

“Every person who donates or buys daffodils this August will be helping us to continue investing in life-saving cancer research programs, giving hope for better treatments and early detection and ultimately, giving us hope for a cancer-free future.”

The Daffodil Day Appeal runs for the whole of August. Visit daffodilday.com.au to contribute.