Wagga Can Assist and Lilier Lodge host fundraiser to ensure they can continue to support cancer sufferers

Original Article - The Daily Advertiser - can be found here

The financial and emotional support Merveem Sjollema received four decades ago and then again almost 30 years later is something she will never forget.

Mrs Sjollema first came into contact with Can Assist in 1989 when her three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The Griffith service helped the family with airfares to Sydney, fuel vouchers and accommodation.

"We lost Alice when she was six years old ... and I never thought I would see the inside of the oncology ward again, but I did in 2017," Mrs Sjollema said.

"You come away from the hospital and told that you might not be cured ... then they tell you to go to Lilier Lodge, because that is the place to stay.

"You walk in the door ... you've got a head full of information that you do not want because you don't want that diagnosis but within five minutes the stress level has dropped."

Mrs Sjollema and her husband Robert stayed at Lilier Lodge for seven weeks and through the support they received, in conjunction with Can Assist, the burden was lifted.

"By the time we left Lilier Lodge, we had a totally different slant on the diagnosis that I was just given," she said.

"These services are essential and once you get that diagnosis, you cannot think .. you're staying in a place that feels like home.

"Initially we had one wage, four children and we were trying to come up with a whole heap of funds trying to get from Griffith to Sydney every three weeks - it was almost impossible."

A high tea fundraiser was held at Borambola Wines on Sunday to raise funds for Lilier Lodge and Can Assist's Wagga branch.

The Wagga Can Assist was established two years ago and Lilier Lodge was started 15 years ago to support people through their journeys with cancer.

Wagga Can Assist president John Nixon established the organisation after his son passed away from cancer.

"I couldn't believe there wasn't one here," Mr Nixon said.

"I got told when we first tried to start Can Assist that Wagga didn't need another charity.

"We've got 105 people on our books and that's 105 people who wouldn't have had help otherwise."

Mr Nixon said cancer has ripped through his family, as he's suffered, his parents have both had it and also his son.

"You're not supposed to bury your own children," he said.

"Everyone has their own stories about their connections with cancer."

Lilier Lodge manager Margaret Dalmau said it is a "privilege" to help those during their time of need.

"I've been with Lilier Lodge for three years and it's a real privilege to help people with their journeys ... we all pride ourselves on making it a home away from home," she said.

"It's a bit of a safe haven, we try to do what we can to make people comfortable.

"Visitors can come and go and we support people through some really rough times."

Ms Dalmau said Lilier Lodge assisted more than 1390 people in the last financial year and people from all over the country, even overseas have stayed.

"We support people right across the region, we've even had people from England stay and also Queensland and WA," she said.

"We have a number of people here today who've been previous members of Lilier Lodge and they're just wanting to show their support.

"We don't get government support; without the community support Can Assist and Lilier Lodge could not survive."

Borambola Wines owner Tim McMullen said this was an opportunity to give back to the community who have supported them.

"My mother has been touched by cancer, she's cancer free at the moment but that was very close to home," he said.

"We get a lot of support from the community and we don't take it for granted and so when an opportunity like this arises, we're happy to be on board and support it where we can."