Christmas appeal to support cancer patients

A not-for-profit organisation that supports people with cancer has set its sights on building an accommodation facility that will be a “comfortable home away from home” for those receiving treatment.

Leukaemia Support Queensland President Jane McMillan OAM is hoping to build a number of two-and-three-bedroom units at Caboolture, but to achieve this goal she is calling on the community to help.

The group has launched its inaugural Christmas Appeal, with all money raised from now until Christmas going towards construction of the facility, which it estimates will be about $2.5 million.

“This facility will ensure patients and their families or carers will have somewhere to stay when they come in for treatments,” Jane says.

“We get a lot of people coming in from out west and up north, and while we do help them with covering the costs of their accommodation at hotels for example, this facility will provide them somewhere they can stay free of charge.

“I am hoping for a minimum of 10 units that will be within a 10-minute drive from the Caboolture Hospital.

“Even though Caboolture doesn’t have a Haematology department, the accommodation facility will be still close to a hospital in case patients need to go for other medical treatments or blood transfusions.

“This is a project we have been wanting to work on for a long time, and this will be our long-term goal for the next couple of years.”

Jane says designs for the units are with a consultancy group and once they are finished a development application will be submitted to Moreton Bay City Council sometime in the first quarter of 2024.

How you can help

Members of the public can help Leukaemia Support Queensland raise the funds they need by visiting their gift-wrapping stand inside Morayfield Shopping Centre.

“We can wrap your presents for a gold coin donation,” Jane says.

“Obviously the bigger the present the more it is, but people have been good in donating to us this way.

“We are so thankful to centre management for giving us a space this Christmas.”

In addition, people can buy cardboard baubles that will be placed on the group’s Christmas tree inside North Lakes Hotel.

Hampers for cancer patients

As part of their Christmas Appeal, Jane is also collecting donations of non-perishable food items which will be donated to people who are going through their cancer journey and treatment.

“People who are undergoing treatment don’t have the money at this time of the year because of everything they are going through, whether that be treatment or paying for their accommodation while receiving treatment,” Jane explains.

“We want to ensure at Christmas they have plenty of pantry staples plus some Christmas treats as well.

“We are seeking non-perishable food items, but if anyone would like to donate a few treats like Christmas cakes, that would be wonderful.

“We will be making more than 20 hampers to people we know really need them.”

All donations for the Christmas hampers need to be in by December 17.

For more information on how you can drop off donations, phone Jane on 0422 584 080.

About the organisation

Leukaemia Support Queensland was founded on October 31, 2006.

The not-for-profit organisation is run solely by volunteers with 100 per cent of the funds dedicated to the cure and care of patients living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood cancers.

This care includes the provision of ‘home away from home’ accommodation near major treatment centres, as well as information, emotional support, education and support programs, and transportation to and from hospital, all free of charge.

For more information, visit the website or follow them on Facebook.