Every day for the last year Renae Di Pietro is living with a miracle. Her one year old daughter Stella is constantly a bright shining star in her life. This Friday she will be a beacon of hope for hundreds of people gathered near the lighthouse at Flagstaff Hill during Light the Night.
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The annual walk with colourful lanterns raises funds to help the Leukaemia Foundation help more people battling a blood cancer. And this year there is an added feature. Thanks to the support of council the beautiful event at dusk is being held in conjunction with the Wollongong Twilight Markets managed by The Rotary Club of Corrimal.
Mrs Di Pietro, who is returning to work as a school teacher next week after 12 months maternity leave, is one of the ambassadors for the 2016 Light the Night where she will walk with her little miracle Stella and carry a white lantern.
It will be a significant moment for her because almost three years ago when she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and went through six months of chemotherapy she wondered whether she would ever be able to have children. The diagnosis came just before her 30th birthday and the following 12 months brought her and her boyfriend, mechanical engineer Rick Di Pietro, closer together and they were soon blessed with a little miracle.
“When I was diagnosed I was given a few different options for treatment one of which would have pretty much guaranteed I wouldn’t be able to have kids. So I went with the other option which still gave me a chance. But things were still looking pretty slim. On the back of six months of chemo I was visiting fertility doctors and looking at doing things like having eggs frozen. But in the end we conceived naturally which was a huge shock because we weren’t really expecting to fall pregnant at all. When we realised we were we were in disbelief,” she said.
Mrs Di Pietro’s message to those thinking about attending Light the Night this Friday is that nothing is ever certain about tomorrow, nothing can be taken for granted but many things might still be possible.
“We had known we liked each other for a long time. I think it was probably the diagnosis that made us realise life is too short. Everything happened pretty quickly after I finished treatment. My husband and I got engaged, we fell pregnant, we were married and we had Stella all in the space of a year. It is really amazing three years on how good life is. I thank my lucky stars every day”.
And one of those stars is Stella who will be shining brightly along with hundreds of lanterns this Friday night. Further information at www.lightthenight.org.au.
Mrs Di Pietro does not yet know whether she will be lucky enough to have more children but she is still in remission and is grateful every day for every good thing that happens in her life.
Last year regional manager Nina Field and others involved in the event, such as Margaret Biggs, ordered 300 colourful lanterns expecting that many people only to have 500 turn up on the night. This year they have ordered 500 and if the weather is as good as forecast won’t be surprised if they get 600 or 700 people.
Gold lanterns are carried by people to remember a loved one, white lanterns are carried by those going through their own blood cancer journey and blue lanterns are carried by people to support others they know with blood cancers.
With the Twilight Markets on at the same time organisers are expecting more people than ever to gather at Flagstaff Hill near Wollongong Harbour for the event that will transform the area into a sea of gold, white and blue. Those not involved in the walk will be in for an amazing sight. And there will also be a range of stalls and on-stage entertainment.
Mrs Di Pietro said when Mrs Biggs approached her about being an ambassador on Friday, along with Wollongong businesswoman Debbie Reali, she felt very honoured.
“It was really unexpected. Margaret just called me out of the blue. It is a great privilege,” she said.
“It has reminded me what has happened is pretty significant. It is something that has pretty much defined my life now. So this is a great opportunity for me to do something to help others. Anything can happen. Everyone who is diagnosed with cancer it comes as such a shock. You never think something like that will happen to you. But unfortunately it happens to so many people and so many people are touched by it. What is really important is to know great things can happen afterwards as well. And life can be really great after cancer.”
Blood cancer facts:
- Every day 35 people are diagnosed with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorders.
- In 2015 30,000 Australians nationally will come together at Leukaemia Foundation Light the Night events around the country.
- Now in its ninth year, Light the Night aims to raise $2 million to give affected families the emotional support they need and to fund vital blood cancer research which focuses on delivering better outcomes for patients and improving their quality of life.
- In 2016 there are 19 flagship events hosted by the Leukaemia Foundation in locations such as Melbourne, Cairns, Sydney, Wollongong and Perth. But there will also be dozens of smaller community walks in each state.
- A blood cancer can develop in anyone, of any age, at any time.
- More than 60,000 Australians are living with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
- The Leukaemia Foundation helps families through services such as emotional support from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond; accommodation during their loved one’s weeks and months of treatment in the city; as well as transport to and from chemotherapy – all at no cost to them.
- The Leukaemia Foundation’s goal is to raise $2million during 2016 Light the Night events.
- Every adult who signs up for a Light the Night walk is being asked to raise $100 which can cover the costs of giving a family immediate emotional support to help them through the shock of being diagnosed, and one hour of blood cancer research.
- The entertainment this Friday includes three TIGS students Xia Lian Wilson, Byron Leitch and Molly Stewart who recently won the Sydney Eisteddfod and will sing Memory. Her grandmother is presently receiving support from the Leukaemia Foundation.
- Another ambassador this year is Wollongong businesswoman Debbie Reali whose young niece was diagnosed with leukaemia but is now in remission.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
