SHOULDER TO LEAN ON: Jack Wilson with his granfather Peter Goodlock, who survived cancer, walks the survivors’ walk at the Orange and District Relay for Life with firends Ann O’Neil, Gail Wright and Brock Waters. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0309sgrelay5
HAND in hand and arm in arm, Orange’s cancer survivors and their friends and family walked the first lap of the 2013 Orange and District Relay for Life on Saturday.
For cancer survivor Peter Goodlock it was an emotional journey he took with his grandson and his friends, much like the journey of his recovery from prostate cancer four years ago.
“It was a bit tearful, I felt a tear or two come on,” he said.
Mr Goodlock said he could not have gone through the journey and remained hopeful without those who walked with him on Saturday.
He said when he felt their arms around him during the walk, he became very overwhelmed.
It hit home just how much he needed those who cared about him.
“When they grab hold of you, yes, you go a bit weak,” he said.
He said he was shocked when he heard the diagnosis four years ago but said it was not hard to tell his family.
“You know you think, this doesn’t happen to me, but it does and it did,” he said.
Member for Orange Andrew Gee talked about how he felt when he was diagnosed with cancer two-and-a-half years ago in a speech during the opening ceremony.
He walked the survivors’ walk this year.
He said you never get over the shock.
“I didn’t walk the survivors’ walk last year, it was just too raw,” he said.
Mr Goodlock and his friends Ann O’Neil and Gail Wright run a stall at the event every year where they sell raffle tickets to raise money, hot dogs and home-made soup when the night gets cool.
“We sold a lot and raised a bit of money, it went very well,” Mrs Wright said.