Michael Grayling travelled eight hours to walk 50 laps at his 653 Relay for Life event at Shellharbour on the weekend.
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Mr Grayling was just one of hundreds of walkers to participate in the Cancer Council charity event that sees teams walk around a track for 24 hours to raise money for cancer research and support services.
Mr Grayling, 62, is a cancer survivor and carer from Melbourne who travels around the country walking in Relay events.
"This year marks my 40th year of having cancer in my body," he said. "In 1979, I was given six weeks to live.
"I went through 11 months of chemotherapy in 1980 when I was 22 years old.
"I came out the other side and now I can't stop fighting for a cure.
"The Shellharbour event was great fun and it raises money for one of the best causes because we need to find a cure for cancer."
Cancer Council's Southern Region community relations coordinator Ainslie Tweedie said more than 600 people walked in the event at Tom 'Scout' Willoughby Oval from Saturday to Sunday.
The final fundraising tally had not been counted but organisers hoped to raise $80,000.
"We had amazing weather and there was good community engagement and energy," she said.
There were three people who walked for the full 24 hours.
Next year's Shellharbour ambassador is Dapto youngster Tyde O'Neill, who has beaten a high-risk leukaemia.
Mr Grayling said his passion for the event came after his own experience with the cancer and when he cared for his parents who passed away from the insidious disease in 2012.
He has been walking in Relay for Life events for 20 years.
"We share stories, hugs and tears and the events are positive places to be," Mr Grayling said.
"I feel lucky to be part of the family of relayers."
The money raised from Cancer Council's Relay events goes towards research and services in communities.
"Events in rural communities like Shellharbour are so important because the money goes back to the area in the form of services such as transporting people to city centres for treatment," Mr Grayling said.
Mr Grayling has no intention of hanging up the walking shoes anytime soon and will participate in Relay events in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Victoria later this year.
