As her body begins to resist treatment less than two years after her shock lung cancer diagnosis, Gold Coast mother-of-two, Evangeline Lim, is more determined than ever to raise much-needed funding for lung cancer research through her second Shine a Light on Lung Cancer community walk at Sanctuary Cove, 4pm Saturday 17 March.
With support from Lung Foundation Australia, Ms Lim is calling on the Gold Coast community to take part in the walk which will raise vital research funds for this otherwise forgotten disease. Despite being our nation’s biggest cancer killer, lung cancer currently struggles to attract adequate research funding.
“I am fighting for equality in cancer research funding. Research which leads to discovery only happens if there is funding,” Ms Lim said.
“Unfortunately, the pills available for my type of rare lung cancer are not a cure. I am now on my second Targeted Therapy and am hoping for a longer run this time as the next pill will be available in the US this year and will only be on trial in Australia.
“I live with hope that new medical advancements will be made and that within my lifetime another ‘magic pill’ will be developed to make my life a lot longer than expected, if not totally cure it.”
As a fit and healthy 53-year-old accountant and business entrepreneur who loved travelling, Ms Lim was shocked to be diagnosed with incurable, inoperable and terminal advanced non-small cell lung cancer in November, 2016.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Heather Allan said lung cancer is a devastating diagnosis – it has the second lowest survival rate of all cancers, and more research is desperately needed to give hope and deliver better outcomes.
“There are 34 people diagnosed with lung cancer every day. It is our nation’s biggest cancer killer with one Australian dying from the disease every hour,” Ms Allan said.
“Despite this, lung cancer receives less than 5 cents of every tumour specific research dollar, compared to 26 cents for breast and 13 cents for prostate cancer.
“We know that research improves outcomes. We have seen survival rates for other cancers such as breast improve dramatically in the past 25 years through sustained investment in focused research.
“It is our hope that the Gold Coast community will be inspired by Evangeline’s courage and determination, and supports her mission by attending the event or donating through her online fundraising page – every dollar counts.”
For details on the Shine a Light on lung cancer walk, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/134543914028291/
Or you can support Evangeline’s quest through her fundraising webpage: https://donate.grassrootz.com/lungfoundation/shine-a-light-on-lung-cancer/evangeline-lim