Chalkie White looked cancer in the eye and was always determined to beat the disease.
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The well-known entertainer’s cancer journey started in December 2016 when he was diagnosed with two forms of lymphoma.
Being told he had cancer shocked him and many thoughts smashed into his mind.
However, he was determined not to become a statistic.
“I was told I had cancer - not that I was dying,” he said.
Mr White, after some tough times, is getting on with his life and will be this year’s Shoalhaven Nowra Relay for Life ambassador.
“It [Relay for Life] is really inspiring and an amazing thing to witness,” he said.
Mr White said it was an honour to be the relay ambassador and wants as many people as possible to attend the event.
“I find it hard to believe that there is not any one in the world who has not been touched by cancer,” he said.
The Shoalhaven Nowra Relay for Life will be held from Saturday, March 24 to Sunday, March 25 at the Nowra Showground and people are urged to support the event.
Mr White will share the ambassador role with his daughter Emily.
Emily has a strong connection with the local relay.
In 2011 Emily performed the song Beautiful Lady she wrote for her grandmother Christine Turner (Chalkie’s mum) who they lost to cancer in 2010.
Mr White also wrote a song about his own cancer journey New Day - a song he hopes inspires others facing cancer.
He said battling cancer was one of the hardest things he faced.
“It was all a bit uncertain at first,” he said.
He had to undergo six months of intensive chemotherapy which knocked him around physically and mentally.
Being told he had cancer after going in to have stitches taken out after he had lymph nodes removed was the last thing he expected.
“I was like ‘what is going on here’ and I was just speechless,” he said.
The call to tell his wife Dana was tough as was the drive home from Crookwell to Goulburn.
“Dana said ‘what the hell?’ because all the initial test were inconclusive but suspicious,” he said.
He said when you face cancer you think the world hates you and at times you feel you are in a really dark place.
However, he still had a lot living to do and life is much better now all the hard treatment is done.
He does still need ongoing treatment and is looking forward to seeing everyone at the Shoalhaven Nowra Relay for Life.
Go to www.cancercouncil.com.au/event/relay-for-life-shoalhaven-nowra-201 to sign up for the relay and also to get more information.
