By Alesha Capone
Melanie Smiley says she cannot thank the Cancer Council Victoria enough for its support after her husband was diagnosed with a rare form of the illness more than a decade ago.
After her husband Tim found out he had the disease, doctors told him that he only had two years to live.
Medical teams were unable to figure out exactly what type of cancer Tim had, which occurs when the disease is found in one or more secondary sites in the body but it remains unclear where it started – known as cancer of unknown primary (CUP).
Tim’s cancer metastasized to his lymph nodes and was found in his cartoid and saliva glands.
Melanie said that surgeons who operated on Tim, who is still alive, dubbed him the “Miracle Man”.
Melanie said she was unsure of where to turn for support following Tim’s diagnosis, until friends gave her some Cancer Council brochures.
“For me, the Cancer Council was amazing – the first thing I did was call the helpline,” she said.
“I don’t know what I would have done without it.”
She said the council also offered support for children, financial support if needed, and that volunteers would drive Tim to his medical appointments if she was unable to.
Melanie joined Relay for Life in 2010 as a way of giving back to the Cancer Council.
She is now treasurer of the Wyndham Relay For Life.
The 2020 event would have been the family’s 10th year participating in Relay for Life, but it was cancelled the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.
This year, Wyndham Relay For Life organisers also had to postpone a fundraising gala dinner planned for May until August 11 due to pandemic restrictions.
Melanie said the Wyndham Relay For Life usually attracted thousands of participants and raised between $200,000 to $300,000 per year.
“This year we really, really want to make it bigger and better, show that we are still here – cancer doesn’t stop,” she said.
The Wyndham Relay For Life 2021 will be held September 11 at the Victoria University Wyndham Sporting Complex in Werribee.
Details: fundraising.cancer.org.au/Wyndham or www.facebook.com/WyndhamRelayForLife.
For tickets to the gala dinner, visit: www.trybooking.com/BQBNZ
To help raise funds, a raffle to win a TM 6 Thermomix will be held at the end of July (unless sold out earlier). Tickets: $20. Details: www.trybooking.com/BSALO
