Rebecca Vella and her mother Margaret Bull.
Camera IconRebecca Vella and her mother Margaret Bull. Credit: Supplied/Bruce Hunt www.communitypix.com.au d475098

Spring Ball in the Valley: Ellenbrook resident hosting event to fight brain cancer

Lisa ThomasThe Advocate

ELLENBROOK resident Rebecca Vella got the worst possible news on Mother’s Day last year, when her mother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Ms Vella said the news turned her life upside down.

“I recall the feeling in my heart when we were given this news; it was the greatest ache I had experienced in my life,” she said.

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“After researching more about brain cancer I was gobsmacked to learn about the statistics, which I had never heard about before.

“Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer.”

From that moment on Ms Vella decided to try and make a difference, so other families wouldn’t have to go through the same devastating diagnosis.

She said the disturbing statistics showed that every day four people in Australia were told they had brain cancer and in 30 years the statistics of surviving brain cancer had hardly changed.

With this information, Ms Vella had the idea to hold a fundraising ball to raise money for research and help eradicate the disease and from that the Spring Ball in the Valley was formed.

“My inspiration behind this event is my gorgeous mother, but my motivation is changing the current statistics and getting awareness out there about brain cancer,” she said.

She said the event was not just about her mother, but everyone who had cancer or who had lost a loved one to cancer.

“Mum is such a humble person. She told me that if she didn’t have cancer then it may have been a child instead,” she said.

The Spring Ball in the Valley will be held next month at Belvoir Homestead and themed around the spring racing carnival.

Ms Vella said guests would enjoy a three-course meal, be able to buy and name a horse, be the jockey or have a bet – as well as prizes for fashions on the field.

“On the night we will have a life-sized cherry blossom tree; in Japan the cherry blossom represents the fragility and beauty of life,” she said.

“I am asking anyone to contact me with the names of their loved ones who have been lost or who are currently affected by brain cancer and on the night we will hang each of these names from the tree branches to acknowledge them.”

Perth band The Hunting Bird will perform at the event, with guest DJ James Maz, and Kemistry Sounds.

Fascinators and bracelets from Parker Fascinators and Pearl Meets Crystal can be purchased especially for the event, with profits going to Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

The Spring Ball in the Valley will be held November 24 from 6.30pm at Belvoir Homestead.

Tickets are $180 with all proceeds going to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

For more information or to buy tickets visit www.springballinthevalley.com.

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