In 21 years, hundreds of thousands of people have raised millions of dollars to help those affected by cancer. The daffodil - one of the first spring flowers - represents the hope there is for the one in three New Zealanders affected by cancer. It symbolises rebirth, hope and a promise of happier times after the cold winter.
NZCS Central Otago Support Services co-ordinator Marie Wales, of Queenstown, said the relatively new branch of the Cancer Society's nationwide support network was looking after the needs of about 80 cancer patients and their families at the moment.
Ms Wales and her "army of fantastic volunteers" organise transport for patients and their families, run shopping errands, provide meals, deal with government agencies and, occasionally, make extraordinary things happen.
Most recently they helped organised a wedding for a terminally ill young woman.
"It was a beautiful day and it was a huge privilege to have been part of it," Ms Wales said.
The registered nurse who most recently worked for Cathay Pacific Airlines, living in Dubai and Hong Kong, said she had no regrets in giving up her former career for her present role.
"I get so much satisfaction and enjoyment from the people I meet.
"You are meeting people at such a vulnerable and personal time in their lives, so inevitably you give a little bit of yourself to every relationship, but you get so much in return.
"I feel like I've been given a gift with this job, because it's really made me value life and appreciate my children and the special people around me."
As well as providing advice and practical support, the society organises recreational activities and provides residential facilities near hospitals where cancer patients can stay at no charge while undergoing treatment.
To provide the services, even with the help of volunteers, the society relied heavily on public donations, Ms Wales said.
"A lot of people don't realise the Cancer Society is the only organisation dedicated to cancer that provides practical support in the Central Otago community and we get no direct funding from the government to do that."
Funds raised help the Cancer Society support people affected by cancer and go towards research into new treatments and possible cures.
2008 Statistics
• 56% of all cancer registrations occurred in people aged 65 and over.
• 72% of all cancer deaths occurred in people aged 65 and over.
• In people aged between up to 24, the most common registration was leukaemia in both males (41 registrations) and females (37 registrations).
• Males aged between up to 24 most commonly died of leukaemia (7 deaths); females of brain cancer (10 deaths)
• Of those aged 25 to 44, melanoma was the most common registration for males, while breast cancer was the most frequently registered cancer for females. • They are also the most common causes of death from cancer for each gender in this age group.
• In the 45 to 64-year age-group males most commonly registered with prostate cancer and females with breast cancer. The most common cause of death for both males and females was lung cancer.
• In people aged between 65 and 74, the most common male registration was for prostate cancer, while for women it was breast cancer. Lung cancer remained the most common form of death.
• In people aged 75 and over, prostate cancer was the most commonly registered cancer for men, while for women it was colorectal cancer. These cancers were also the most common causes of death from cancer for each gender.
• A total of 1728 Maori and 18,589 non-Maori were registered with cancer in 2008.
• A total of 859 Maori died from cancer in 2008, compared to 7707 non-Maori.
