It was while waiting for prostate cancer surgery after a surprise diagnosis that Bruce Tronell asked what he could do to help his situation. His oncologist told him the fitter he was, the better his chances.
Bruce was already on his feet all day, loading and unloading trucks at work, so his oncologist suggested he look at other types of fitness as well.
“So after I spoke to him I went home and got changed. And I walked. And I walked every night for three months until my timings stablised, then I changed up the distance” says Bruce.
After his treatment was completed, Bruce returned to his daily walks but this time he decided to up the ante: he wouldn’t just walk down the street - he’d complete marathons.
That was over twenty years ago and he has now completed more than 40 distance events and over 20 marathons.
“I say that each one of them is a nail in the cancer coffin. It’s an achievement because you’re not wasting your fitness. You’re putting it to good causes because each event is fundraising for something.”
Bruce is now gearing up for a cause particularly close to his heart: Relay For Life, a fundraising event for the Cancer Society which takes place every year in March. This Relay will be his 21st.
“My first Relay was in 2004 when it was held at Porritt Stadium. It was 24 hours back then. It’s a happy event because you’re all on the positivity. Most of the people walking or raising funds, they know someone who’s had cancer. They know the hardships they’ve been through and they’re giving the power of positivity.”
Relay For Life sees participants loop a 400m track while keeping their team baton moving from 9am-9pm. It’s a significant fundraiser for the Cancer Society, which provides free support across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty including accommodation at the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge. With cancer rates rising steeply and set to double by 2040, the Cancer Society has set an ambitious fundraising target of $250,000.
“I’m confident we will get there,” says the Cancer Society’s Fundraising Event Specialist, Van Kilburn.
“We’re looking forward to bringing something a little bit different this year. We’re at a new venue, running at a new time and we’ve got lots of new entertainment acts and activities throughout the day. We’re also excited to be bringing back the dunk tank which we will be kicking off at midday by dunking rugby legend and Sky Sports commentator, Honey Hireme-Smiler.”
For Bruce, the part he enjoys most is the camaraderie and community spirit on the day.
“I’ll always be doing Relay For Life as long as I’m walking around. As I say, it’s a nail in the cancer coffin. Before my diagnosis, I was never sick at all. I was fit. If I hadn’t gone to donate blood and been told something wasn’t right, I would never have known.”
Relay For Life takes place on Saturday 29 March from 9am-9pm at the University of Waikato. Spectators are encouraged to attend and make a donation to the Cancer Society on the day.