WITH an average of 135 people diagnosed with cancer in the Southern Grampians each year, Thursday’s Daffodil Day offered a chance for many to reflect.
It is estimated that 151,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer in 2021 – that’s over 400 per day and almost half of all Australians will be diagnosed with some form of cancer by the age of 85.
Among local businesses embracing the annual fundraiser, Donehue’s Leisure is one which has included daffodils in the garden with a focus on the cancer awareness day.
Donehue’s administrator, Maree Willis said the company had been involved in Daffodil Day for a couple of years now.
“We all know somebody in our lives that has been touched by cancer and Les Donehue planted all these daffodils and decided to allow the public to come and look at the flowers and take them home and thought Daffodil Day was the perfect time for this to help raise awareness around cancer,” she said.
“We don’t collect money here at Donehue’s, but we would love people to make a donation to the Cancer Council.
“People can come out to Donehue’s anytime during our business hours to collect daffodils in support of Daffodil Day.”
It’s estimated that over one million Australians are currently living with cancer, or beyond cancer and the number of new Australian cancer cases diagnosed over the period from 2020-2044 is projected to total more than 4.56 million.
The number of Australians living with or beyond cancer is expected to increase by a staggering 72 per cent in the next 22 years and by 2040 1.9 million Australians will be living with, or beyond cancer.
Cancer Council Victoria’s head of fundraising, Lyrian Fleming-Parsley said cancer takes so much from all of us – it takes from our friends, neighbours, colleagues and family.
“By giving this Daffodil Day, we can help stop cancer from taking so much,” she said.
“We can give for all the people who’ve been affected by a cancer diagnosis, whether that’s you, or someone close to you – giving, that’s what Daffodil Day is all about.”
Ms Fleming-Parsley said in 2020, Cancer Council and its research partners directed over $54 million to research grants for vital research projects across Australia, but more is desperately needed.
“Over 49,000 Australians died from cancer in 2019,” she said.
“Thanks to investment in research, amazing advancements have been made in cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, which has helped increase survival rates from 51 per cent in the late 1980s to around 70 per cent.”
Every person who donated or bought daffodils on August 31 helped Cancer Council to continue to invest in life-saving research programs.
This year marks 37 years of Daffodil Day and all donations and funds raised through Daffodil Day will directly fund cancer research projects across Australia, helping save lives and help bring a cancer-free future.
Victorians were urged to give thanks, give hope, give praise, give back, give someone a hand, give it a go, give a shoutout.
Cancer is the leading cause of disease burden in Victoria with 36,974 Victorians diagnosed with cancer in 2021 - an average of 101 diagnoses every day, or one new cancer diagnosis every 14 minutes and 32 Victorians dying from cancer each day.
The five most common cancers in Victoria are prostate, breast, bowel, lung and melanoma and together, they account for 56 per cent of all new cancers.
Regional Victorians are 44 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma than Victorians living in major cities.
Cancer Council is the only charity that works across every area of cancer, from research to prevention and support.
They help people to reduce the risk of getting cancer, once diagnosed with cancer through to their treatment and beyond.
Find out more at cancervic.org.au
