When Marty Haynes met a four-year-old boy fighting cancer 17 years ago, he organised a truck convoy fund-raiser to cheer him up.
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The boy, Ryan Scanners, was told he would not make it beyond his 7th birthday.
It was then the idea behind the popular i98fm Camp Quality Convoy was born.
Mr Haynes, a radio presenter at i98fm, was awarded a member of the Order of Australia honour on the Queen's birthday for his service to cancer support organisations.
I'm pretty honoured, I don't do it for the accolades. I do it because I can.
His first convoy raised funds for the Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group in Canberra.
It was inspired by Ryan, aged four, who loved trucks and motorbikes.
"He had a real effect on me," Mr Haynes said.
"My father had trucks and I thought to raise a little money. I'm still in touch with his family."
Ryan died five days after his seventh birthday.
Once Mr Haynes became a radio announcer at i98fm in 2002, he started working on establishing an annual convoy in the Illawarra.
"The community turns out to support the families, who see they aren't walking the journey alone," he said.
The most emotional moment at a convoy for Mr Haynes was spotting his friend, a sick teen, in the crowd three years ago.
Barrack Heights teenager Keely Payne was too sick with cancer to ride on a truck in 2011.
When Mr Haynes spotted her among the hundreds of people lined up at Shellharbour, he stopped his truck and went to hug her.
"She's a battler, she has an amazing attitude to life."
A record $1.19 million was donated at last year's convoy, which featured 872 motorbikes and 780 trucks.
On receiving a Queen's Honour, Mr Haynes said he was surprised and proud.
"I'm pretty honoured, I don't do it for the accolades," he said. "I do it because I can."
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