GLORIA McInnes has taken part in the Relay for Life for the past three years, both as a cancer survivor and a member of the Milton Bootscooters team, but this year she will be walking laps in memory of her son.
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Craig McInnes, known by most as Charlie, lost his battle with bowel and liver cancer on July 27, less than a year after he was diagnosed.
Mrs McInnes said taking part in the Cancer Council relay at the Milton Showground on September 6 and 7 would be difficult for her and family members who had joined her team for the first time.
“I think it will be terrible, but it’s what we have to do,” she said.
Charlie’s sister Debbie Brook and her husband Ian, along with their son Will and his wife Carlie, will take to the track in honour of a man who was extremely talented, loved the outdoors and never lost his sense of humour.
Charlie’s parents Gloria and Jim moved to Lake Tabourie in 1973 and he attended Ulladulla public and high schools before gaining a mechanical apprenticeship.
Over the years he continued to work at local smash repairers and also on tuna and lake fishing boats until, while on holidays with his partner Melissa Turnbull, he landed a job driving a large dump truck in the mines in the Northern Territory.
Charlie’s daughter Angie, 22, was the apple of his eye and the two had a close relationship.
Mrs McInnes said Charlie and Melissa moved back to Ulladulla last year, where he spent 10 months battling his disease.
She has urged men to have regular bowel screens as a simple test could have saved her son’s life.
During the relay, Charlie’s family will place candlebags carrying messages of hope in his honour as part of the remembrance ceremony at dusk.
Debbie said her family was relaying for Charlie and others battling cancer.
“We feel every dollar that can be raised to assist people struggling with cancer and every bit of research and progress that can be made to help with our future generations is certainly something worth doing,” she said.
A member of the Milton Bootscootersx2 team, Mrs McInnes will also be taking part in the longest line dance where all relayers will be welcome to join in a single line dance across the showground in a record-breaking attempt.
She will also join fellow dancers on the relay stage as part of the entertainment.