If anyone should be as tough as nails it is Bob Sinclair after many years in the military, including stints in some of the most war‑torn corners of the globe.
But the Māpua resident was knocked by a metastatic melanoma diagnosis in April 2023.
He visited his doctor when a lump under the skin on his left shoulder had protruded to the size of his fist, and further investigations showed the illness had spread to his lungs and liver.
While his treatment was swift, to the surprise of medical staff, Bob’s cancer journey included blistering and skin bleeding after seven rounds of the Pharmac‑funded immunotherapy drug Keytruda.
The treatment also triggered an ongoing side effect where his body does not create cortisol, and he takes low‑dose steroids to manage it.
Now in remission since early 2024, the retired builder is rebuilding himself, and he and his whānau are walking alongside him in their second Relay for Life for Cancer Society Nelson Tasman, which he says has been “excellent” throughout a journey no one wishes to be on.
“They’ve turned me around and now I have a lot of time I can put towards helping them for what they’re achieving,” Bob enthuses.
His team, dubbed Bob and the Bobletts, includes wife Karen, son Toby, daughter Kelli Rollinson and her husband Alistair, grandsons Caleb, 17, Liam, 15, and Thomas Rollinson, 17, and Lasse Schuppe, 17, a German exchange student living with Kelli and Alistair.
Bob and his family have benefitted from Cancer Society Nelson Tasman’s counselling sessions, and Bob is a regular at the Survivors and Thrivers support group in Motueka.
The 75‑year‑old has been known to dress eccentrically in a blue wig, suspenders and a tutu while rattling a bucket for funds in central Nelson, Richmond and Motueka for Bob and the Bobletts tally.
He has already lapped his team’s initial $1500 target.
Bob says he mentions to the public that he is a cancer survivor and believes this should encourage others to approach Cancer Society should they or a loved one be affected by cancer.
“I’ve met people who have got cancer and they are shy to actually approach the Cancer Society, but there should be no fear, do it in your own time, because I didn’t feel pressured at all,” he acknowledges.
Relay For Life will be held at the Richmond A&P Showgrounds from 4pm on Saturday, 14 March to the following morning at 8am.
Bob will be participating in the opening lap at the fundraising event at 4pm, which honours cancer survivors and carers.
He implores the public to get behind the cause.
“Everyone knows someone who’s got cancer, and it’s affected everyone in different ways of life, whether it’s a workmate, whether it was family in the past, or whether it’s themselves,” he says.
“[Cancer Society Nelson Tasman] do a great service to the community, please come out and support them, and it’s not too late to get a team together.”
Team registrations for Relay for Life close on Friday, 28 February. Visit: nelsontasman.relayforlife.org.nz to register. Cost: $20 per person.
