Leukaemia patient Kris Beretov will walk 100 kilometres for kids with cancer. Picture: DAVE TEASE
Walking 100 kilometres to raise funds for kids with cancer in the Illawarra would be a noble act for anyone to undertake but Kris Beretov is not just anyone.
The Dapto resident was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago and, despite having weekly chemotherapy injections, he feels he has a responsibility to the kids.
"I know what they're going through. If I can put a smile on their face when I know how bad things are, it's the least I can do for them," he said.
Mr Beretov will walk from Shellharbour to Coalcliff and back over two days as part of The Great Illawarra Walk.
He raised $1700 through last year's walk but this year, raising funds had proved a little harder.
"With living expenses and everything rising, things are getting tighter for people so they don't have as much money to donate, unfortunately."
Mr Beretov originally aimed to raise $2000 this year but he is still hundreds of dollars away from his target with only one week to go.
As an extra incentive for his sponsors, he has made a wager.
"I've got a bet with my wife. If I make it to $2000 this year, my wife gets to wax my legs and put me through some pain," he said.
There are about 260 children living with cancer in the Illawarra region who will benefit from the money raised through programs run by Camp Quality, the charity behind the event.
Camp Quality area manager, Ann Tanks said community support was essential to the charity's programs.
"We don't get any government funding so, without the community, we just wouldn't be able to do the programs that we do," she said.
Last year, the walk attracted 560 participants, taking the total money raised since it began six years ago to $200,000.
It's hoped this year's walk will attract about 600 people.
The Great Illawarra Walk 2013 is on March 23-24. For more information or to register, visit www.greatillawarrawalk.com.