Connar Gibson had a habit of collecting people.
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He was cheeky, brave and had a big heart and now his legacy lives on through the Fight 4 Connar Foundation which aims to support families with terminally ill children.
Connar was nine when he lost his four-year battle with brain cancer last month.
Family friend Monica Halliday started the Fight 4 Connar facebook page last year to help support his Lake Macquarie family.
Now she has started the foundation to continue his legacy and on Saturday will lead the biggest team taking part in the Cancer Council’s Relay For Life at Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale.
“Our motto is ‘Make memories matter’, so it’s about us creating things that parents don’t think about when they are told their child is terminally ill with cancer,” Ms Halliday said.
“It was just about helping Connar’s family initially and then it’s grown to be bigger … now it is about us being able to support other families with terminally ill children.”
Ms Halliday described Connar as a “little boy with a massive heart”.
“Everywhere he went he collected people,” she said.
“He just had a personality and cheekiness and that’s what we want to continue; we want to bring that out in the kids.
“We want them to see that they might be sick but they are still important and they’ve got a reason to fight.”
The Fight 4 Connar Relay for Life team is 74 people strong.
The Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Relay For Life raises vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention, information and support services in the Hunter region.
It also aims to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those lost to the disease.
It will be staged from 11am to 11pm and features live entertainment, kids’ activities and food stalls.
This year country music star Amber Lawrence will lend her support to the event by taking to the stage for a special closing performance.