George, Norma and Jonathon Saba are helping the Cancer Council continue its vital work, while embracing a strong community. Photos: Supplied.
An Illawarra family whose experience with cancer helped them find a sense of community, is walking this weekend to support the service that eased the burden, while encouraging others to make use of all the Cancer Council has to offer.
George and Norma Saba and their son Jonathon have been participating in the Relay For Life since 2008.
They had already been touched by cancer, with Norma having had thyroid cancer, and had other family and friends impacted by the disease.
But the Cancer Council would soon become an unexpected lifeline as the disease returned to their lives.
“In 2019 mum’s cancer came back,” Jonathon said.
“It started off as bowel cancer which had then spread to different parts of her body – her small and large intestine, her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and all that.”
“The initial shock of it all, hearing the word ‘cancer’ can be quite scary,” Norma said.
“The fact that it was spreading quite quickly throughout my body, I didn’t have really much time to think about it so it was a matter of accepting it and believing in the doctors and the oncologists that were going to do the treatment.”
The shock rippled through their family, taking a mental and emotional toll.
“Your brain is still working overtime and it’s scary too,” George said.
“I remember a few times I drove Norma to Sydney to hospital and I missed a couple of red lights because my mind was not there.
“Then the Cancer Council said, ‘We’ll take it, we’ll do whatever you want to be done.’
Through the chemotherapy, radiation and operations, Cancer Council helped take care of them with support, information, connection and everyday tasks.
This was particularly vital when Norma needed an operation on her lungs in the peak of COVID, and couldn’t risk anyone in the home becoming ill.
“I had to stay home basically and not go out,” Norma said.
“The Cancer Council, again, rung us up, spoke to my husband and said we need your wife to stay healthy so that she can have her treatments and continue on with her surgeries. If you would like us to do anything for you, we’re more than happy to go and do the shopping and drop it off at the door so you’re not going out and catching anything and bringing it home to your wife.”
After a fierce battle, the Saba family didn’t hesitate to give back to those who helped them. Photo: Supplied.
“Those little things that bring that burden down give you the opportunity to help break everything down and help navigate that pathway back to success,” Jonathon said.
Finally they received the news that Norma was in remission.
While the Saba family could’ve easily sat back and just been thankful, they wanted to do something more.
“As soon as I finished my treatments and my surgeries, the first thing I wanted to do was organise those couple of events to give back to the Cancer Council, to help them to refinance and help for hopefully a cancer free future,” Norma said.
As well as personal fundraisers and participating in events such as Stars of Wollongong, the annual Relay for Life is a key date on their calendar.
It is also a chance to connect with a community they have grown to be so close to.
“Throughout the day you’re doing your laps and mingling within the community and you bump into that one person that is there because they want to make a difference but there’s also a side of them that’s hurting because they’ve lost a friend or a family member,” Jonathon said.
“So to be able to walk up to someone, hold their hand while walking the track or give them a hug, it means a lot more than anything else.”
While crowds are expected to show up to the event to help the Cancer Council continue their vital work, Jonathon said it’s crucial the community isn’t afraid to use the help available.
“If you do have to cross that path of yourself or somebody you know that gets that cancer diagnosis, just call that number,” he said.
The Illawarra Relay For Life 2025 is on Saturday 11 October from 9 am at the UOW Innovation Campus.
To participate or donate visit the Relay for Life website.
For cancer information and support, call Cancer Council’s Information and Support line on 13 11 20.
