Aidan Curtis
A MOUNT Gambier family is doing their bit in the fight against blood cancer by raising nearly $16,000 to help those dealing with the disease.
The Supplice family lost husband and father, Geoff Supplice, to blood cancer in November 2021, and wanted to do what they could to support others going through it too.
They signed up to do Leukaemia Foundation’s Light the Night on Friday, September 30, with proceeds going towards the Foundation.
Geoff’s wife, Heather Supplice, said their main goal was raising awareness.
“He got no symptoms besides a sore throat, then all of a sudden he was in hospital, we found out he had cancer, and within two and a half months he was gone,” Ms Supplice said.
“You get screened for breast cancer, you get screened for bowel cancer, but you don’t get screened for blood cancer.
“A lot of people don’t get any symptoms, which Geoff didn’t; he just had a sore throat and we put it down to tonsillitis.
“We are still getting our head around the fact that, apart from that, he was fine.”
The family also wanted to do Light the Night to show thanks to the Foundation for all the support during Geoff’s battle with blood cancer.
“This year we decided we just wanted to give back to the Leukaemia Foundation,” Ms Supplice said.
“All up I think we ended up raising around $15,600.
“We know it’s a worthy cause, we know someone’s going to be going through what we’re going through now, so if it’s going to help someone else, it’s worth it.”
The Supplice family took the opportunity to come together and remember Geoff, who they described as “a real character”.
His daughter, Casey Holmes, said he had a big presence that always made an impression in people’s lives.
“He was the backbone of our family, he was such a proud dad,” she said.
“His kids and his wife were his everything, and he was a genuine country bloke that just loved his family.
“It’s weird not having him around, that’s for sure, because he was outspoken and he just made a very high presence in everybody’s lives.”
Ms Holmes said she would advise people to get themselves checked out if they do not feel quite right because it could end up saving someone.
“If you don’t think something is quite right, just get that second opinion or take yourself to the hospital,” she said.
“The doctors are amazing and they basically said never ever feel silly if you don’t think something is right.”
