In a joint letter to the Otago Daily Times, the Wanaka group yesterday described the dismissal of five volunteers as "sudden, unfair and unexplained".
The five volunteers, and a sixth colleague who resigned in support, went public about their dismissal last week following failed attempts to negotiate a resolution and an apology.
The Wanaka cancer survivors have also vowed to continue to support each other informally, rather than seek Cancer Society assistance, and said that other cancer patients and survivors were welcome to join their monthly afternoon tea meet-ings.
The meetings would be advertised in local bulletins.
The survivors declined to give their last names yesterday because they did not want to be contacted by the society.
Some said they were unhappy with the way the volunteers were treated so had decided to stop supporting the society's fundraising initiatives.
They were also unhappy the society's internal magazine, Link, no longer included details of the Wanaka community's contribution to fundraising and events.
They wanted to express their appreciation to the dismissed volunteers, who had helped many survivors overcome fear and loneliness.
"Without them, where would we be?" survivor Liz said.
"It is a difficult enough business dealing with illness on your own without the support.
"It's not just the patient who has cancer, it's the whole family," Wendy said.
Beryl said she beat cancer 35 years ago but enjoyed the monthly get-togethers because there was nothing like that when she was ill many years ago.
Bev Rudkin will host the group's monthly meetings, which were formerly hosted by volunteer Margaret Barrow.
Losing the volunteers' support was like losing a safe place to go.
"We think they have been like angels," Mrs Rudkin said.
The cancer support group has about 21 members.
