As a family we count ourselves as incredibly lucky, that both mum and my step father Jonno are survivors.

Our first brush with cancer was when my beloved step father, Jonno, was diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils.

Jonno was a proud shearer, a very strong man who went through a brutal time with chemo and radiation. It really sucked the life out of him and he still bears those scars today.

Then came May 9, 2014. We were lighting a birthday cake for our little man, Hayden when the doorbell rang. There was mum ready to celebrate his birthday.

We had a wonderful time, enjoyed cake and cuddles and Mum put Haydy to bed. When she came downstairs, she said call your brother, we need to talk.

She had been to see her doctor to get some test results and they were not good. She invited us to an appointment the following day with her doctor so he could explain.

The next day, Mum introduced us to her doctor, and then announced she was leaving us with it. She didn't want to hear the negativity. She was going to enjoy the rest of her life, making the most of every minute and every milestone she had left.

The doctor explained to us exactly how bad he believed it was, we were talking months, not years, possibly weeks.

The challenge for mum was they couldn't locate exactly where the cancer was and that meant eight weeks of needles and tests, hospital and operations, trying desperately to work out what they were dealing with and the clock was most certainly ticking.

After eight long weeks, Mum finally got the call, grade three ovarian cancer.

I doubt there has ever been anyone so excited to be told they had grade three ovarian cancer, Mum was over the moon.

Chemo, followed by major surgery, then more chemo and then she woke to find her doctor at the end of her bed.

They didn't see this very often but the tests after the surgery showed no signs of cancer, the cancer cells had been completely wiped out of her body.

I wish we had the video of that day as mum did her best to dance around the room with her two doctors who had performed the impossible.

As a carer, I have no idea of the physical side of cancer. I haven't had the needles, I haven't had the chemo, I haven't had the surgery. I don't pretend to know what our sufferers go through. But you all should know that each and every one of you are truly inspirations to your families.

Mum's message is to make the most of every minute, as you never know how long you have left to enjoy.

Every birthday, every Easter, every Christmas we celebrate like it's our last together as a family and that continues to this day.

In mum's and Jonno's case, they cherish every moment with their six grandchildren.

The eldest, Benny got engaged to his beloved Selina at Christmas last year.

Kobie was elected onto the student representative council this year and is planning a career in politics, something which we will talk her out of (hopefully)

Mitchy is excelling on the football field, his real passion making rep teams and not getting knocked out as much as he used to,

Her favourite son, Greg moved his family, Janine, Ruby and Finnegan to Perth last year to take on a role at Optus Stadium, the epitome of success in his chosen career,

And our little man Haydy, who had no idea how important his birthday was to our family back in 2014, I asked him the other day what he likes most about Nanny.

He said cuddles, and that she comes to his grandparent day at school every year, and that is his best day of the year.

For Mum, each of those milestones has made every needle, every surgery, and every burst of chemo worthwhile.

Earlier this year, I was humbled to be asked to be the Patron for the Cancer Council's Wollongong Relay for Life.

This year's Relay for Life will be different with the community being invited to come for an hour or come for the day, drop in for as long or short a time as you can spare to show your support for this fantastic charity.

On Saturday, October 12, we would love you to come and walk with us.

Celebrate lives well lived, share stories of hope and inspiration and do what Wollongong does best, come together and support each other as we fight this insidious disease which sadly, affects us all.

Mark Sleigh is the general manager of Destination Wollongong and the ambassador for the 2019 Wollongong Relay for Life.

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