Ambassadors light the way to fight leukaemia

Sharyn Polce, Matt Wright and Rosie Rechichi have each been touched by blood cancer in different ways.

Ms Polce has been fighting chronic myeloid leukaemia for the past eight years. She said everyday was a struggle and without the Leukaemia Foundation she would not be alive.

“I have been through five types of oral chemo and they have all failed, two years ago I got to go to Adelaide for a trial,” she said. “Without the Leukaemia Foundation’s help I would not have been able to go — I would be dead.”

Dr Wright, head haematologist at Fiona Stanley Hospital, is acutely aware of the toll leukaemia and other blood conditions can take.

“There is not only the physical illness of it, there is the emotional aspect and the social problems it can cause,” he said.

He said during his 15 years in the job there has been big advances in research to fight leukaemia but more needed to be done.

Rosie Rechichi, 21, lost her fiance Michael Owens to leukaemia in April this year, just five days after he was diagnosed. She said she wanted to do all she could to raise awareness of blood cancers and disorders, with 35 diagnoses nationally and 25 in WA every day.

Ms Polce, Dr Wright and Ms Rechichi are all ambassadors for tonight’s Light the Night event in Elizabeth Quay, which raises vital funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.