Tanya Mowbray says despite her late husband Scott’s cancer diagnosis, he always maintained a positive outlook.
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“People would say, ‘how are you, mate?’ and he’d say, ‘living the dream – every day’s a bonus’,” she said.
“He was very positive and just took every day head-on.
“Yes, he had an illness, (but) he wasn’t a victim of cancer. He was very positive and everything he did was for his kids.”
Mr Mowbray was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells, at age 43.
Having previously gone into remission, following a complication with his bowel died nearly two years ago, aged 46.
Albion Park residents Mrs Mowbray and children Zali, 16, and Jye, 13, are ambassadors for the 2018 Shellharbour Relay for Life.
Mr Mowbray took part in the survivors’ lap at the 2015 Shellharbour Relay, during his period of remission.
Mrs Mowbray said her husband was an avid enthusiast of “anything with an engine – cars, motorbikes, boats”.
She said the family’s 1966 Mustang was “his last toy” that he bought about 14 months prior to his death.
The car will be featured as part of the 2018 Relay.
Jye said that any time the family took the Mustang out, “it’s like we’re taking Dad with us”.
“That was what Dad loved, and Dad loved spending time in that car,” Jye said.
“So if we spend time in that car it’s almost as if we’re with Dad, doing what we used to do.”
“We’ve been involved in Relay for the past three of four years, and I said to Mum I’d really like to do this part of Relay, as it would add that special meaning for us,” Zali said of being an ambassador.
“Us doing it for Dad put more meaning in Relay for Life for me personally… So I was really grateful that we were offered the opportunity to help out.”
Mrs Mowbray said as ambassadors the family also wanted to support, “all the people involved in Cancer Council, or anyone involved in cancer research”.
Relay for Life is a 24-hour event raising funds for Cancer Council NSW.
The 2018 Relay for Life will take place at Tom (Scout) Willoughby Oval, Shellharbour on April 14-15.
A ‘Relay Connect’ teams information night for the event will take place on January 30 at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club from 6pm.
Click here for more event details.
