LECHELLE Earl, daughter Ashiah, Casey Allen and daughter Tyga will return as gold ambassadors at Mount Gambier’s Light the Night event on Friday to commemorate a decade since losing their beloved sister and aunt.
The local family has had a long association with the Leukaemia Foundation since Bianca Earl was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia almost 14 years ago.
Despite briefly being declared leukaemia free, Bianca died from complications caused by the disease 10 years ago this month.
Her parents David and Sue Earl and sisters Lechelle and Casey were supported by the foundation during Bianca’s illness.
Following her death at just 29 years old, the Earl family has continued to support the foundation in return.
Lechelle said her family was honoured to be able to pay tribute to both Bianca and the foundation at this year’s Light the Night event in Mount Gambier.
“While Bianca was undergoing treatment, we were so grateful for the assistance we received from the Leukaemia Foundation,” Ms Earl said.
“Over the years we have tried to repay the foundation by raising thousands of dollars for them.
“While there is so much devastation and negativity while dealing with a loved one’s terminal illness and eventual death, our family has always tried to seek out the positivity in the situation.”
Ms Earl was the state gold ambassador for the inaugural Light the Night walk in Adelaide in 2008 and the gold ambassador for the first Light the Night event held in Mount Gambier.
Her daughter Ashiah Earl Yeates, 10, was also gold ambassador for the Mount Gambier event five years ago.
Bianca’s diagnosis was the driving inspiration behind Lechelle and Casey launching the Every Drop Counts campaign to bring the Red Cross Blood Collection Service back to the city after a long absence.
The campaign was an enduring success story, with 15,000 signatures collected within a matter of weeks for a petition to reinstate the blood collection service.
The service now returns to Mount Gambier regularly.
Light the Night will be held on Friday evening at the Cave Gardens.
