Stroll the red carpet in Wangi Wangi for Casino Royale

Thursday 20th February 2020

news, local-news, Elizabeth Wright, Liz Wright, ovarian Cancer Australia, Wangi RSL Club, Casino Royale, Allison HeffernanWANGI Wangi RSL Club will roll out the red carpet when it is transformed into a Las Vegas-style casino for a local woman and her special cause in April. Think black tie formal dress code, champagne on arrival, and an array of gaming tables to rival what James Bond encountered in Casino Royale. The event, on Saturday, April 4, is being staged by Elizabeth Wright and her friends to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Australian research. In 2017, Ms Wright, of Wangi Wangi, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer, the deadliest women's cancer. From that moment, she has been dedicated to raising funds for ovarian cancer research, and raising awareness of the disease and its often vague symptoms. Ms Wright's friend Allison Heffernan is among the group who's organising the event. "Having the gaming tables and the Casino Royale theme will mean it's a completely different type of night out for Wangi Wangi," Ms Heffernan said. "Liz is going through a bit of a rough patch with her health at the moment, and she's not sure that she'll be well enough to attend on the night. "She said 'If I'm not able to come, will you girls run it?'." Related reading: They're calling it Liz's Cockteal Party (teal being the colour associated with ovarian cancer). There's a formal dress theme (black, silver, white or gold). Tickets cost $50 which includes champagne on arrival, finger food, tray service and $1000 worth of mock gambling chips for use on the roulette wheels and other casino games. There will be live music, including a special appearance by the Ron Knight Duo, an act that performs at Las Vegas, Ms Heffernan said. There will also be raffles and auctions. "Among the auction items will be B&B accommodation packages, and charter boat cruises," she said. "It'll be something a little bit different." Ms Heffernan said Ms Wright continued to amaze her family and friends with her courageous and stoic approach to her health challenges. "Despite everything that's happened, you just never hear Liz complain or say a bad word about anything," she said. "She just never puts herself first, even in the circumstances she now faces." Ms Wright has kept a diary and created a blog on her Facebook page in which she describes what she has been going through. "What I like is that even if it's a photo of Liz in hospital, and in a hospital gown, she'll have a little smile on her face," Ms Heffernan said. Ms Wright ends many of her posts with the same message: "Awareness is Key". Ms Wright said warning signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer included bloating, weight gain or loss, back or pelvic pain, urgency in urinating, feeling of fullness after eating a small amount, and breathing difficulties. She urges women to see their GP if they experience any of the symptoms, and to ask for a CA125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound. It was all about having GPs investigating symptoms further, and diagnosing ovarian cancer earlier, she said. Seating is limited to about 200, and tickets are now on sale. Phone 0430 423 642 for tickets. Wangi Men's Shed gets cracking on WIRES request for 10,000 bird boxes | photos Cinema Under the Stars returns to Lake Macquarie Silicone coffee cups that collapse to fit in your pocket

WANGI Wangi RSL Club will roll out the red carpet when it is transformed into a Las Vegas-style casino for a local woman and her special cause in April.

Think black tie formal dress code, champagne on arrival, and an array of gaming tables to rival what James Bond encountered in Casino Royale.

The event, on Saturday, April 4, is being staged by Elizabeth Wright and her friends to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Australian research.

In 2017, Ms Wright, of Wangi Wangi, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer, the deadliest women's cancer.

From that moment, she has been dedicated to raising funds for ovarian cancer research, and raising awareness of the disease and its often vague symptoms.

Ms Wright's friend Allison Heffernan is among the group who's organising the event.

"Having the gaming tables and the Casino Royale theme will mean it's a completely different type of night out for Wangi Wangi," Ms Heffernan said.

"Liz is going through a bit of a rough patch with her health at the moment, and she's not sure that she'll be well enough to attend on the night.

"She said 'If I'm not able to come, will you girls run it?'."

Related reading:

The walk to raise awareness of the symptoms women dismiss (2018)Head shavers united for Liz at Wangi | photos | video (2017)

Walk with Liz against ovarian cancer on Sunday at Warners Bay (2018)

They're calling it Liz's Cockteal Party (teal being the colour associated with ovarian cancer).

There's a formal dress theme (black, silver, white or gold).

Tickets cost $50 which includes champagne on arrival, finger food, tray service and $1000 worth of mock gambling chips for use on the roulette wheels and other casino games.

There will be live music, including a special appearance by the Ron Knight Duo, an act that performs at Las Vegas, Ms Heffernan said.

There will also be raffles and auctions.

"Among the auction items will be B&B accommodation packages, and charter boat cruises," she said.

Liz Wright about to get her head shaved by Steve Hannon, of Wangi Barber Shop and Beardery, as a fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Australia in 2018. Picture: Supplied

"It'll be something a little bit different."

Ms Heffernan said Ms Wright continued to amaze her family and friends with her courageous and stoic approach to her health challenges.

"Despite everything that's happened, you just never hear Liz complain or say a bad word about anything," she said.

"She just never puts herself first, even in the circumstances she now faces."

Ms Wright has kept a diary and created a blog on her Facebook page in which she describes what she has been going through.

"What I like is that even if it's a photo of Liz in hospital, and in a hospital gown, she'll have a little smile on her face," Ms Heffernan said.

Ms Wright ends many of her posts with the same message: "Awareness is Key".

Ms Wright said warning signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer included bloating, weight gain or loss, back or pelvic pain, urgency in urinating, feeling of fullness after eating a small amount, and breathing difficulties.

She urges women to see their GP if they experience any of the symptoms, and to ask for a CA125 blood test and transvaginal ultrasound.

It was all about having GPs investigating symptoms further, and diagnosing ovarian cancer earlier, she said.

Seating is limited to about 200, and tickets are now on sale.

Phone 0430 423 642 for tickets.

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