Arrow’s bespoke fundraising campaign, Paint the Town Red, has been another big success in 2025, just in its second year of running. Each year the campaign grows stronger, and this September during Blood Cancer Awareness month, it raised over $30,000 to support patients and families affected by stem cell transplants!

Graham Lewis: Turning Red into Hope

Graham Lewis wholeheartedly embraced the red theme of ‘Paint the Town Red’, finding plenty of personal connections to the colour. Red tractors, red cars, red cricket uniforms and even red corrections on school work have all been a part of Graham’s life. Graham found more inspiration in his hometown of South Australia – the SA Reds crickets team, Penfolds Grange, rock lobster, Sturt desert pea, and Berenberg strawberry jam.

What has also been a part of Graham’s life has been blood cancer. Graham has had two stem cell transplants, which he describes as “brutal and tough”.  Graham knows first hand the challenges patients face. He explains “Stem cell transplant is one of the most complex and high risk procedures in modern medicine. The conditioning therapy is brutal and transplant related mortality in the first 10-12 months can be as high as 10-20%. Survivors often live with chronic, disabling conditions such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) – a reality that leaves many wondering if the cure was worse than the disease.”

Graham believes three factors make the biggest difference to stem cell transplant patient outcomes. They are location, clinician expertise and support from family, caregivers and support organisations like Arrow. Graham has witnessed the support Arrow has provided patients across Australia, including helping people access treatment not available in their home state, which is why he was keen to support the Arrow Paint the Town Red fundraiser.

Rallying his own team together which he aptly named the “Great Southern Reds”, Graham encouraged friends, family and associates to donate to Arrow and help him reach his ambitious target of $10,000.

Graham engaged his community with social media posts and newsletters, and participated in two events to encourage donations. One was a morning tea in his local park, to enjoy a red themed treat, along with some fresh air and a chat, and the second was the 12 kilometre City to Bay fun run. Graham did not think it would ever be possible to compete in the City to Bay fun again, since his stem cell transplant has left him with debilitating side effects. Graham first did the race in 1979 when he was just 16 years old. He recalls buying a new pair of runners a few days before the event, which ultimately was a mistake resulting in his feet being so blistered that he was forced to finish the run barefoot on the grass median strip.

Graham did not make the mistake this time and instead let the tyres of his Alinker walking bike, which helps him with his mobility, take the punishment for him.

Graham courageously completed the full 12 kilometres on his walking bike describing it as “hard” but said “If I can do that, then you can make a contribution to the Arrow Foundation so they can continue to support people through stem cell transplants”. And that they did, with Graham’s family and friends rallying around and supporting him and Arrow with total donations of $7,224 to provide comfort, care and practical support for patients. A huge thank you to Graham for his passion and resilience. You are an inspiration.

Leanne’s Keepers: The Longest Golf Day

After losing his Mum, Leanne, in June 2025, Brad was inspired to honour her memory and make a difference. He decided to hold a “Longest Day of Golf” as a Paint the Town Red fundraiser. Brad rallied 16 of his mates from the local Orange community, and together they formed a team called “Leanne’s Keepers”.

The team brainstormed ideas to raise money and came up with the idea of a “100 Club”. First prize of $3,500, 2nd prize $1,000 and 3rd prize $500, and the rest donated to charity. Brad and his friends generously chose to donate $5,000 of the funds raised to Arrow, in recognition of the support Arrow provided to his parents through Leanne’s leukaemia journey.

The golf day was a great success! The team completed 54 holes on foot without a single injury and enjoyed every moment together.

Thank you to Brad and his mates for their incredible effort and generosity. Your support will make a real difference to future patients facing stem cell transplants.

Lisa Cuthbertson: Dancing Through 40 Years

Lisa Cuthbertson, a stem cell transplant survivor, did exactly as the campaign said, and literally painted the town red. Hosting an over 40’s disco dance party in an inner-city club, Lisa was surrounded by her beautiful family and friends, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her stem cell transplant.

Lisa was one of the first stem cell transplant recipients at St Vincents Hospital Sydney, having received a transplant as a teenager. Four decades later, Lisa had every reason to kick up her heels!

There were drag queens, dancing and singing as the group celebrated into the wee hours of the afternoon, at a suitable time for over 40’s! One of the most memorable moments was Lisa’s rendition of “I will survive” – a tribute to her transplant and her sister, who donated her stem cells. Lisa and her friends raised over $4,000, for Arrow. And we must also thank Lisa, as the ideas person, behind Paint the Town Red. None of this would be possible without her.

Celebrating with ANZTCT

Continuing the party theme, the Australia and New Zealand Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ANZTCT) dedicated their social dinner at the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) to Arrow’s Paint the Town Red. Another fabulous evening filled with fun, dancing, plate smashing, trivia and raffle prizes. The event was attended by clinicians, allied health staff, pharmacists and data managers – the very people who make transplant possible. This group of specialised and dedicated healthcare professionals from across Australia came together to offer their support, going above and beyond the amazing work they do, day in and day out, caring for patients. It was a wonderful event raising over $4,000 for Arrow’s patient support program, nearly double what the event contributed last year.

Sage Wilder: Strength in Community

Sage Wilder joined us again this year, with his fitness business Strong and Mindful running a red themed Saturday morning exercise session. Sage and his incredible community, raised $1,640 to support stem cell transplant patients. Sage knows only too well the impact of a stem cell transplant, having received a transplant himself.

Sage said of the event “For me, this cause is deeply personal. I still pinch myself that I’m now 8 years in remission 🙏🏽 To be able to stand here today, healthy and strong and give back to the foundation that helped me and so many others is something I’ll never take for granted. Thank you to the Arrow Foundation for everything you do. This day was for you and all the lives you’ve touched. ❤️”

Sage also expressed his gratitude to his fitness community saying “Your generosity, energy and support means the world. To be able to come together, sweat it out and give back in such a powerful way honestly filled my cup. Thank you to every single person who showed up, donated and contributed. You made a real difference.”

Today, Sage enjoys life with his beautiful wife and child, and continues to give back to help others on the same journey. Thanks Sage for your dedication and your enthusiasm, and to the Strong and Mindful community for standing with us.

Red Nails Around the World

This year we had a new take on the Paint the Town Red concept with a number of people being sponsored to paint their fingernails red for the month.  We saw bright red nails being flaunted on social media, spreading awareness and encouraging donations. David and Chris Taylor, and Zy McLeod joined in the fun along with Dr Ritika Saxena, a PhD researcher and Arrow scholarship recipient. Ritika took her Paint the Town Red branded nail polish around the world and painted the nails of many of her international research colleagues, collecting donations from them along the way. Together they raised over $1,500. We loved seeing this great new idea for Paint the Town Red and the many innovative ways people can get involved.

In memory of big Red Tal

For Jodie Mason, Paint the Town Red, was her opportunity to honour her beloved son Tallis, who sadly passed away last September following his transplant. Jodie felt getting involved in the campaign was ‘meant to be’ given her son’s nickname was Big Red and that he passed in the month of September. Jodie encouraged her family and friends to support saying “I am taking part in Paint the Town Red for Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation because I am inspired by their work. The difference they have made to so many people is just extraordinary and I know there are so many others that would benefit from their work. But they need more funding to make that happen. So please support their work by donating to my CrowdRaiser, as I know they will appreciate every cent received. And I will be very grateful for your contribution too! The more people who can help the better!”. Jodie proudly raised over $800, following an outstanding fundraising result through her earlier participation in Dry July.

Liverpool Catholic Club: Long Term Supporters Leading the Way

Finally, our long term supporters Liverpool Catholic Club also got behind the cause, kicking off the campaign with a donation of $5,000. We thank Liverpool Catholic Club for their amazing support of everything we do, and appreciate their commitment to supporting stem cell transplant patients.

Thank you for Painting the Town Red

From fun runs to disco parties, nail art to fitness sessions, Paint the Town Red 2025 was a vibrant celebration of resilience, community and hope. Thank you to everyone who was involved in Arrow’s 2025 Paint the Town Red. Whether you hosted or attended an event, donated, posted or shared, every action is much appreciated and will directly support stem cell transplant patients and their families during one of the toughest journeys of their lives.