Australians diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, will now be able to stay at the Leukaemia Foundation’s brand new purpose-designed self-contained accommodation units located in Stirling Cross, close to Perth treatment centres and Leukaemia Foundation services.

It’s the first time all of the Leukaemia Foundation’s essential services will be based in one central location in the organisation’s 25 year history in Western Australia. In the past ten years alone, the Leukaemia Foundation in Western Australia has provided more than 27,000 free nights of accommodation, as well as more than 12,500 trips through its patient transport service.

There are ten fully equipped one and two bedroom apartments as part of the new Stirling Cross facilities which will now provide families from regional Western Australia and other states with vital accommodation when they are forced to relocate to Perth for life saving, blood cancer treatment.

The Leukaemia Foundation said the new units represents a significant milestone for the Leukaemia Foundation supporting West Australians living with blood cancer.

“For the majority of people living in rural and regional areas of Western Australia, a blood cancer diagnosis means they have to move immediately to Perth and begin treatment; for many, within 24 hours of diagnosis,” a spokesperson said.

“To relieve this stress and financial burden, the Leukaemia Foundation offers free accommodation to these people and their families while they are undergoing treatment in Perth.

“With the co-location of accommodation with our blood cancer support services and administration office, we will be close at hand in a brand new, safe and secure ‘home-away-from-home’, with incredible amenities and, importantly, all major treatment hospitals accessible within 25 minutes of the complex,” the spokesperson said.

The Leukaemia Foundation will lease 10 apartments for accommodation after the generous support of former West Australian and Businessman of the Year Adrian Fini. The services include a ground-floor commercial space where the fit out and furnishings were supported through a personal donation by Mr Fini and his wife Michaela as well as funding from the Western Australian Government through Lotterywest.

“This is an exciting outcome for the Leukaemia Foundation and will help ensure people living with blood cancer in Western Australia are able to access high-standard accommodation options,” the spokesperson said.

“The Leukaemia Foundation receives no direct or recurrent government funding, so we are very mindful of how we spend the money we raise. This is a cost-effective accommodation solution allowing us to be responsive in delivering a vital service, close to essential amenities and accessible to the major treatment hospitals of Perth.”