FAMILY and friends of Lionel McNamara know him as a family-oriented, kind man, who is regularly involved in community events throughout the Redlands.
But what some people may not know is that Lionel has battled leukaemia for the past six years and, in January this year, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The Birkdale resident suffers from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
“It’s a long-term, slow progressing type of leukaemia and the doctors will eventually give me chemotherapy to kill the cells and get the levels down to what they should be,” Lionel said.
He said he was more nervous about the surgery he requires for prostate cancer.
“I am not ill from it (leukaemia), but once you know it is there, you have to keep an eye on it,” he said.
“I am waiting on a date for surgery at the moment. I told them I wasn’t available to have surgery until after the middle of July. I had too many things on,” Lionel quipped.
As the secretary/treasurer of the Leukaemia Foundation Redlands branch, the 63-year-old has spent most of July working for the Lavender for Leukaemia Appeal .
Lionel also helps organise regular street stalls, dinners and sausage sizzles to raise funds for the foundation, which provides free support services to patients and their carers.
Lionel’s charity work for the foundation is immense, which sees him organise local fundraisers with many organisations every year.
These events include the Moreton Bay College choral afternoon, Cleveland City Chamber of Commerce golf day and the Cleveland Mitre 10 and Cleveland Bowls Club bowls afternoon.
Lionel plays a remarkably active role in the community, but in his spare time he helps out at his church and spends time with his wife Narelle and daughter Kirsty.
Juggling work and socialising means Lionel leads a very normal life, and when he is reminded of his condition, he stays optimistic.
“I have had a struggle at times. It feels like you have this little voice sitting on your shoulder and occasionally it taps you and says ‘hang on, I am still here’,” he said.
“You need to have a positive attitude. In the past it has got me down at times, but there are services available and they do help.”
For information on the Leukaemia Foundation and the support services it offers, visit www.leukaemia.org.au.
The next street stall will be held at the Westpac corner, Cleveland, on Thursday, August 7.