Anglesea cancer patient calls for support to step up research

With Surf Coast residents spending countless hours trekking their local streets and paths this year, a new event is now challenging us to put our lockdown fitness to the test to help fight cancer.

Anglesea resident Janet Jones is encouraging Victorians to put on their runners for the inaugural ‘Lighthouse Classic’, which will raise funds for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute. Janet Jones has established the Lighthouse Classic to shed new light on what causes cancer and how it can be treated more effectively.

As someone who has faced three separate battles with cancer over a period of 33 years, Janet is passionate about identifying causes for cancer. “I’ve managed to conquer two different cancers on two different occasions and will fight it again a third time,” she said.
“But the Lighthouse Classic is not just about my cancer, it’s about trying to raise funds so we can find out why people get cancer, how we can stop it and how we can improve the treatment.”
“The Institute is doing some fantastic work to identify causes for cancer, effective treatments and why some cells become cancerous.”

Leading the research at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute is Professor George Kannourakis.“Our research is focused on the role of the immune system and how it relates and can be used to treat cancer,” he said.
“It is hoped that druggable targets can be developed to allow the immune system to attack the cancer, without chemotherapy and radiation.”

Participants can walk or run anywhere they like to complete the Lighthouse Classic challenge any time during the month of January. Janet and George plan to complete their12km challenge by starting at Urquhart Bluff, touching the Aireys Inlet lighthouse, and returning. To learn more about the event, or register to take part, go to www.fecri.org.au.

Participants can also share their achievement on Instagram with #lighthouseclassic21

All funds will go to the Ballarat-based, Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, which is Australia’s only regionally-based cancer research centre. The research aims to help patients with a broad range of cancers–from Leukemia, Bowel, Ovarian, Breast, Renal, Lung, Melanoma and Pancreato-Biliary cancers, as well as haematological cancers.