TELEVISION presenter Phil Kerslake who appears on the weekday morning series, Good Morning, was the special guest at a lunch for the Wairarapa branch of the Cancer Society and their volunteers yesterday.
Welsh-born Kerslake, who lives in Wellington with his wife Gillian and their two golden retrievers Aslan and Amba, and
who has also made a name for himself as life coach, was just 19 when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Now at 47 and in full remission after beating back the illness six times in 26 years, he's published a book ? Life, Happiness and Cancer, which has been touted as New Zealand's first-ever self-help book to help fight and conquer the disease.
He said while it's an autobiography, he's really written the book for other cancer sufferers ? it's a story they can hopefully relate to and one which will greatly encourage them.
He trained as a coach with CoachU, the world pioneers of coach training and is on the executive of the Wellington branch of the International Coach Federation.
He also practises as a medium and psychic development teacher, a successful business leader and a consultant in the services sector.
Today he said his personal mission is to help others discover their own passion, wonder and fulfilment from coaching, book writing and motivational speaking services he delivers nationwide from his company Life Paths.
The lunch was held at the Wairarapa Cancer Society's executive president Jeanette Bunny's Masterton home and being International Volunteer Day it also provided an opportunity to thank the society's band of volunteers.
Wairarapa Cancer Centre manager Gaye Rowberry, said people became volunteers because they may have had a personal experience with cancer, either as a patient or involving a person close to them.
Although there's usually no one single reason that compels any of the Cancer Society volunteers to give up their time and their skills to help people with cancer and their families and loved ones, Ms Rowberry said there were certainly many different ways in which they made a difference.
The kinds of duties volunteers today perform, range from driving patients to treatment, co-ordinating volunteer patient support teams, volunteering at the Cancer Centre shop and fundraising right through to simply listening.
"You can find our volunteers working in individual and family support, health promotion and early detection, administration and fund raising.
For special events such as Daffodil Day and Relay for Life, our volunteer base swells enormously," Ms Rowberry said.
For new volunteers, there's an orientation programme giving the opportunity to learn new skills, gain experience, make new friends and have fun.
"We're always looking for skills-based volunteers. But anyone who feels they have something to offer is extremely welcome."
TELEVISION presenter Phil Kerslake who appears on the weekday morning series, Good Morning, was the special guest at a lunch for the Wairarapa branch of the Cancer Society and their volunteers yesterday.
Welsh-born Kerslake, who lives in Wellington with his wife Gillian and their two golden retrievers Aslan and Amba, and
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