This year we launched our inaugural Paint the Town Red campaign, and had people painting the town red the whole of September during Blood Cancer Awareness month. In fact, there was some kind of event happening each and every week to help support bone marrow and stem cell patients across the country. What a fabulous start to an annual campaign!

We’ve had red-themed birthday parties, gyms and their patrons decked out in red, runners out in the pre-dawn cool and of course the transplant healthcare professionals themselves from ANZTCT tearing up the dance floor at their annual conference dinner.

There have also been kids dressed in red learning to kick a football, and others doing red mufti days at school. We’ve also had a morning tea where people stitched red felt hearts and heard about what it’s like to receive a stem cell transplant from a patient who had had a transplant just 8 months earlier.

We have seen lots of creativity, and plenty of generosity, in support of bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients.

We are particularly grateful to the following people and organisations who hosted a Paint the Town Red fundraiser in support of Arrow:

• Philip Hartog – celebrated his milestone birthday as a Paint the Town Red fundraiser asking his guests to make a donation to Arrow in lieu of gifts
• Australia and New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapies (ANZTCT) – dedicated their social dinner at the ANZTCT Annual Scientific Meeting to Paint the Town Red, hosting raffles and fun games, to help raise funds for Arrow, showing that their support for transplant patients goes well beyond their professional expertise.

• Strong and Mindful Lifestyle – Sage Wilder, a bone marrow transplant survivor himself and owner of Strong and Mindful Lifestyle, hosted a special Paint the Town Red personal training gym session donating ticket sales from the session to Arrow
• Mindful Maker – hosted a crafting session for their sewing club making little red felt love hearts for the families supported by Arrow

• Liverpool Catholic Club – made a donation to the campaign through their Club Grants program
• Shadowbox HQ – hosted a special gym training session, with their members enthusiastically getting into the theme of dressing up in red, and making a donation. This event was also promoted by local radio station C91.3.

• Exploring Tree Early Learning Centre Oran Park – hosted a red mufti day at their early learning centre attended by our littlest of supporters
• Beryl Cuthbertson – hosted a ‘Red Queens Garden Party’ with friends in her beautiful gardens enjoying pink champagne and jam tarts for a gold coin donation

• Ritika Saxena – presented her final PhD report to an auditorium filled with colleagues and professionals, where she ended her presentation with an encouragement for attendees to forgo the purchase of a cup of coffee for a $5 donation to Arrow during Blood Cancer Awareness month
• Little Kickers Macarthur and Southern Highlands – dedicated a week of their pre-schooler soccer lessons to the Paint the Town Red accepting donations at each session

• Lisa Cuthbertson – hosted an Over 40’s retro disco, with the profits from ticket sales donated to Arrow

A special mention goes to Lisa Cuthbertson, a bone marrow transplant recipient herself, who came up with the original Paint the Town Red idea. Lisa says she knows only too well “the wonderful impact Arrow’s work can have on bone marrow transplant patients and their families”. Lisa received a bone marrow transplant nearly 40 years ago for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and says, “The experience taught me to seize any opportunity to kick up one’s dance heels and celebrate life”, which inspired her lively over 40’s disco event.

Thanks to everyone who hosted, participated or donated to a Paint the Town Red fundraiser this year. Together, we raised over $17,000 to support bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients.

Each event was an outstanding success with funds raised, a lot fun had along on the way, and a desire to do it all again next year. Here is what some of the Paint the Town Red hosts had to say:

It was an epic night and one to repeat for sure!!

Prof Nada Hamad – ANZTCT President

I must say the dinner was a highlight – loved the theming, games and good company. The $$ raised is the cherry on the cake – congratulations!

Adina Thavison – Slatterys

It was a pleasure to support this important cause, and we’re glad to know that the funds raised will make a significant impact on patients in need. The connections made that night are invaluable, and we hope they lead to further collaboration on the future.

Mellow – Le Sands Restaurant

Thank you, we had an amazing turn out! It was such a fun event, I can’t wait to do it all again next year. Thanks for letting me be involved ☺️☺️

Sage Wilder – Strong and Mindful Lifestyle

What a great effort from Exploring Tree Oran Park, it will be great to be a part of it again next year!

Hannah – Exploring Tree Early Learning Centres Event Manager

Just wanted to send you a huge thanks too for a truly fabulous morning. It really was!

Such a wonderful group of women. All together for a great couple of hours – and boom!! Little red hearts aplenty and an amazing amount of donated dollars over morning tea. Hugely grateful to each one.  Thanks so much again for bringing Arrow’s dedication to our attention. It really has hit a chord for me.

Sil – The Mindful Maker

We can’t wait to make Paint the Town Red even bigger and brighter next September! If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact our Fundraising Manager, Kags Garrard at kgarrard@arrow.org.au, to discuss how we can help support you in your Paint the Town Red fundraiser.