Cancer Council’s much-loved Daffodil Day is back this Friday (August 23) and the community is urged to get involved to help support life-saving cancer research.
Young Tablelands cancer survivor Missy Clarkson, 12, is helping raise awareness for the fundraising initiative, having featured in a national advertisement for the charity.
In 2016 Missy was among the children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Growing up in the small town of Malanda, Missy was declared a high-risk patient and began ten months of intensive chemotherapy, travelling back and forth from Malanda to Cairns, as well as receiving treatment at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
At one-point during her treatment, Missy spent three consecutive months in a hospital room and was put in isolation due to her immunity being compromised.
Thankfully Missy’s treatment was successful, and she was able to ring the final chemotherapy bell in November 2018.
Now Missy has set her sights towards working for a cancer free future.
“I did want to be a doctor, but now I want to be a clinical researcher and work towards finding a cure for cancer,” she said.
Cancer Council Queensland CEO Ms Chris McMillan said a cancer free future was within reach.
“Cancer Council works across every aspect of cancer, but we rely on the generosity of community donations to fund our work,” Ms McMillan said.
“Money raised this year through the Daffodil Day Appeal will provide more than hope to people like Missy, it will go towards vital cancer research, with the potential to find the next breakthrough in cancer treatment or detection.
“Thanks to research, the five-year relative survival rate for childhood cancer has continued to improve over the last three decades in Australia and is now at 85 per cent – up from 73 per cent in the 1980s – but more work needs to be done.
“With your support this Daffodil Day Appeal, we can raise funds to save many more lives.”
Australians are encouraged to donate online this August, or at sites across the country on Daffodil Day.
For more information or to donate visit daffodilday.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85.
