The chamber's annual fundraiser to fight cancer was founded four years ago by JCI Illawarra member Stefanie Gaspari and her sister Melissa.

This year it will be held on May 24 and is to occupy both rooms at City Beach Function Centre.

Ms Gaspari said she was always blown away by the spirit of generosity in the Wollongong business community.

"Last year, a guy [Martin Parmenter] who attended the event contacted us the day after to say he wanted to donate a surfboard to this year's event," she said. "He has been working on it ever since."

Mr Parmenter works in the asset management department at Wollongong City Council but making timber surfboards is a hobby that started by chance five years ago.

"I always wanted to have one and I couldn't really afford to buy one so I started doing some research about making them," he said.

"The first one I ever made was for my son. The second one was for myself. It weighs about 18 to 20kg. Each is individually shaped but the one I am making now is on a boat-building style. It is getting back to the 1960s to the way they used to surf initially with big D fins."

Mr Parmenter was so moved by last year's Tea By The Sea he decided to make a surfboard as a prize to be won at this year's event.

"It made me realise everybody knows someone who has suffered cancer at some time in their lives," he said.

The Cancer Council's new southern region manager Toby Dawson was amazed at what he witnessed during his first experience of Tea By The Sea last year.

"It is fabulous to see what a small group of enthusiastic and committed people can do to really bring the community together around the cause of cancer," Mr Dawson said. Information about the event can be seen at www.jciillawarra.org. Mr Parmenter has launched a parmentersurfdesigns.blogspot.com.au/?m=1 blog where people can monitor progress on the Tea By The Sea surfboard construction.