IT will be a hard act to follow, but the search is on again to find an inspirational cover star for the next edition of the region’s Yellow and White Pages book.
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The honour last year went to local grazier and grain trader Derek Larnach who has defied the odds with his story of cancer survival and tireless fundraising efforts for cancer research.
Mr Larnach hit the local news in 2009 when he was hospitalised after being crushed by two bulls on the family property at Perthville.
He suffered broken ribs and a pulmonary oedema from the accident but what was also discovered during his medical intervention was that Mr Larnach had adrenal cancer.
The local farmer was given six months to live. That was more than four years ago. Mr Larnach still has the cancer and continues daily chemotherapy treatment, but most importantly he is still alive.
And the survivor is not resting on his laurels.
In 2011, with his son Harry, he launched Livestock for Lives, a fundraising program calling on local farmers to donate the proceeds of the sale of one of their animals when they send livestock to market.
The initiative has so far raised more than $100,000 for rare cancer research at the University of Sydney. Mr Larnach said he has been overwhelmed with the response from local farmers and businesses.
“The locals are the real champions of this charity. Locals reached into their pockets and helped out and have pushed forward research into rare cancers, which in turn is benefiting all cancer research. Because of their generosity there is new research coming through and the results are very promising,” Mr Larnach said.
Mr Larnach also credits his selection to be on the front cover of the phone book as instrumental in aiding him to raise community awareness of rare cancers.
“I still don’t know who nominated me,” Mr Larnach said. “Now I am glad they did. It’s been a good opportunity to promote and advance research into rare cancer and has also put me in touch with others going through a similar experience.”
It has been this contact with fellow cancer sufferers that has led Mr Larnach to the next stage of his campaign, which is to build a support service for rare cancer patients.
“After I was featured on the cover of the Yellow and White Pages I did a bit of media and this led to people from across the country getting in touch to share and compare stories. One thing that kept coming up was that the specialists don’t have a lot of time to explain at length to patients what they can expect after a diagnosis.”
Through Livestock for Lives Mr Larnach has built a close working relationship with doctors and researchers at the University of Sydney Research Centre into Rare Cancer, and is now working with patients there to talk to them about their prognosis and what they can expect as they undergo treatment.
Next year’s theme for the Yellow and White Pages cover is “Inspiring Others to Achieve” and Mr Larnach is encouraging anyone in the region who knows an inspirational leader to give them a shot at getting the recognition they deserve by nominating them for the project.
Nominations can be made by visiting www.whitepagescommunity.com.au. Nominations close on July 14.