INCLEMENT weather affected attendance at the Light the Night in Warrnambool but organisers said it was still a successful night.
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Laura Levett said about 100 people took part on Friday after the venue was switched from Lake Pertobe to the Wannon Rooms at the Warrnambool showgrounds because of wet weather.
Mrs Levett said the event was successful in raising awareness about the prevalence of blood cancers, which are the second-most common type of cancer in Australia.
It also raised more than $3500 for the Leukaemia Foundation’s research into blood cancers.
Mrs Levett said participants included those who had survived blood cancers, others who were undergoing treatment and those who had lost loved ones to the diseases.
Because of the wet weather, participants formed a circle and held a minute’s silence to remember those who had died instead of the planned lantern walk at Lake Pertobe.
Among the speakers was leukaemia and lymphoma survivor Brian Gorman, of Warrnambool, who spoke about the impact the blood cancers have had on him and his family.
The night was also a celebration of life and family and included a barbecue, face painting, cake stall and the screening of a family movie.
ehimmelreich@standard.fairfax.com.au