The 74-year-old Kiama resident and his wife Kay were devastated when they discovered his skin cancer had not only returned, but was spreading through his body.

He’s recently had to undergo six weeks of radiation therapy at Wollongong Hospital and, with wife Kay also unwell, has had to rely on Cancer Council’s transport to treatment service.

It’s just one service provided by the charity thanks to the proceeds of events like Relay for Life, and Mr Wye encouraged people to support this weekend’s Wollongong relay.

‘’The Cancer Council have been good to me – and many others battling cancer,’’ Mr Wye said. 

‘’The transport service especially is great for us – I get to treatment and checkups on time and the drivers are fantastic.‘’

Mrs Wye said she doesn’t know how she would have coped otherwise, with her husband’s appointments subject to change at a moment’s notice depending on how his body reacted to the intensive treatment.

‘’It has been simply amazing,’’ she said. ‘’Cancer Council’s volunteers who support this service deserve a medal.’’

Cancer Council NSW community engagement manager Terry Deegan said more than 100 Illawarra patients had been transported to appointments in the past year.

‘’This service is available due to funds raised by Relay for Life events across the region,’’ he said. ‘’They also allow us to fund research, cancer prevention programs, advocacy and accommodation and many other support and information services.’’

The 16^th Wollongong Relay for Life will be held this weekend, followed by Kiama’s relay on October 22-23.

The Wollongong event –  at Beaton Park, Gwynneville – has a fundraising goal of $200,000 and half of that has already been raised.

‘’The Illawarra community has been an amazing supporter of Cancer Council over many years,’’ Mr Deegan said.

‘’That’s the case again this year, with 100 teams already registered and many more people expected to register on the day.’’

The 24-hour event will kick off on Saturday at 9.30am with the opening ceremony and will finish with the closing ceremony on Sunday at 9.30am.

‘’Relay for Life brings communities and families together to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones and fight back against cancers,’’ Mr Deegan said.

‘’People can stay at the event for as little as one hour – or a team can attempt to have someone on track for the entire 24 hours.’’