SANDRA Smith will open her garden to the public for the first time in over two decades next month to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.
The Penola business owner will showcase her sprawling Clay Wells Road property to Limestone Coast residents in a bid to raise money for the foundation, hoping to give back to the organisation which supported her during her own health journey.
Ms Smith has been a passionate supporter of the foundation since she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2015, raising over $75,000 for the organisation.
After returning from the United States where she visited family, Ms Smith started to feel unwell with a headache and lethargy.
“After I visited my general practitioner and had a blood test I was rushed to the Mount Gambier hospital and in the same day I was flown by the Royal Flying Doctors to Adelaide to begin treatment,” Ms Smith said.
“There was no time for me to even pack a suitcase.”
Ms Smith resided at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s hematology ward before being approached by a social worker.
“They organised a person from the Leukaemia Society to visit us and they offered us and our family a beautiful unit to stay in as long as we needed it,” Ms Smith said.
The Bridgestone Australia Village in Northfield is purpose-built accommodation for Australians fighting cancer.
Ms Smith said she was humbled by the design of the accommodation as well as the endless support and services available.
“The staff are amazing on so many levels,” she said.
Following three rounds of chemotherapy, Ms Smith was told she needed a stem cell transplant.
“My younger brother Mark came over from the United States for a month and stayed at the unit providing support for my husband,” Ms Smith said.
“It also turned out that he was a perfect stem cell match to myself.”
Ms Smith recalled the day she walked out of the hospital on January 1, 2016.
“What a way to celebrate life,” she said.
“Now all I wish to do is give back to those who helped me.”
Since Ms Smith left the hospital, she has been a vocal advocate for the foundation.
“This is all thanks to friends and family as well as the local community,” Ms Smith said.
“Last year I started a garden project and sold fruit and vegetables and even hay bales where we managed to raise $1000.
“This year we are doing the same but including an open garden for people to come and spend the morning or afternoon.”
Ms Smith will open her garden to the wider community with raffles, a plant and vegetable stall, lunch and afternoon tea.
“The garden looks over the red gums on the property and is comprised of native gardens, fruit trees, raised garden beds as well as roses,” she said.
The Pennant will publish more details about Ms Smith’s open garden event closer to the event.
