The Castlemaine community was devastated by the loss of young Newstead mum Lauren Bright to cancer on September 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lauren leaves behind her devoted husband Jamie to raise their two young children Bailey, 7, and Jade, 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many locals knew Lauren through her involvement with the Newstead Football Netball Club where she was a tireless worker on the club’s committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family and friends of the 39-year-old have set up a Go Fund Me page to assist Jamie to focus on their kids following this devastating loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In honour of Lauren’s memory they are also determined to spread the message about the dangers of melanoma and the importance of having regular skin checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lauren’s friend and Go Fund Me page team member, Ellissia Campbell, said Lauren had been bravely fighting an aggressive form of melanoma for two and a half years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“She had to juggle oncology appointments in Melbourne, hospital visits, medical check-ups and work, while raising her two young children. She did it all with determination, grace, humour and a smile,” Ellissia said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In June this year, while celebrating her 39th birthday, Lauren felt a sharp pain in her head followed by a loss of vision. She underwent an emergency MRI and was given the heartbreaking news that the melanoma had spread to her brain.
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Despite several rounds of radiation, chemo and immunotherapy, the family was told that there were no more options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Lauren remained physically strong right to the end. She shocked us all by taking part in a boxing class about 10 days before she died. She was so strong she always struggled to get a boxing partner because nobody could match her physical strength,” Ellissia said.
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Despite that fighting spirit, Lauren died on September 3 with husband Jamie by her side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Friends and family have been asking what they can do to help, and right now there is no easy answer,” Ellissia said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Jamie\u2019s immediate focus is on taking care of their two children and trying to continue giving them the life that Lauren fought so hard to give them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“With that in mind, when Jamie is ready we would love to send him and his children on a holiday. It would give them some space to breathe and to rest, and help them regain the strength to return to their life at home without Lauren. Travel was always a really important part of their lives, and we know Lauren would love for Jamie to continue this tradition,” she said.
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Ellissia and fellow organisers have been blown away by the response to the Go Fund Me fundraiser to date with the figure at more than $67,000 at the time of going to press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jamie’s sister-in-law Shari Bright said the family had been overwhelmed by the love and support they had received and the response to the fundraiser.
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“These additional funds will alleviate the day to day financial pressures as Jamie, Bailey and Jade navigate life without their loving wife and mother,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The success of this campaign is a credit to Loz, her character and the impact she has left on this community,” Shari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you would like to make a donation in honour of Lauren you can do so by visiting gofundme.com and searching ‘Love & Support for the Bright Family’.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Castlemaine community was devastated by the loss of young Newstead mum Lauren Bright to cancer on September 3. Lauren…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":9041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,15],"tags":[3216,3215],"ppma_author":[5225],"class_list":["post-9040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-latest-news","tag-lauren-bright","tag-newstead-football-netball-club"],"yoast_head":"\n