A cancer survivor is encouraging the Shellharbour community to share the message of what drives them to participate in the annual Relay for Life.
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Tony Purdon, 63, is a previous ambassador for the Shellharbour Relay for Life.
In 2015, the Mount Warrigal resident was in hospital in Sydney “having some major surgery done, when I was informed that they’d found something that didn’t belong there”.
“I was told I had stage three kidney cancer,” he said.
“Later that year, I was readmitted back into hospital at St Vincent’s and they removed a kidney and some other bits and pieces that were attached in the hope that would arrest that particular cancer.
“If I hadn’t been in hospital at that time, and another 12 months had passed I certainly wouldn’t be speaking to you today.
“At the moment I’m all clear – three-and-a-half years on, and no new cancer.”
Relay for Life is a 24-hour event raising funds for Cancer Council NSW.
The 2019 Shellharbour Relay will take place on April 6–7 at Tom (Scout) Willoughby Oval, Shellharbour.
This year, the event committee are encouraging registered Shellharbour Relay teams to film a short video (about 30-60 seconds in length) on the topic of “why we Relay”.
They can feature a single team member, or a series of team members.
Participants are then requested to post the video on Facebook, while tagging the ‘Shellharbour Relay For Life 2019’ Facebook page.
The video which receives the most shares and likes will win a prize – so feel free to be creative.
The videos will also be screened during this year’s Shellharbour Relay.
Mr Purdon has launched the video campaign.
“Having had cancer myself and being a survivor, it’s a practical thing we can do as a community – getting together and showing a resolve to find money and support for each other,” he said of why he participates.
This year’s Shellharbour event will have the theme of “life’s a beach”. Registrations: www.cancercouncil.org.au/shellharbourrelay.