STEVE Gribbin was on the ropes three years ago.
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In a fight for his life, almost down he was throwing counter-punches at the government rallying for life-saving hepatitis drugs to be moved on to the the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
A liver transplant saw him win the fight and the drugs were put on the PBS.
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Now he is in an unwanted rematch.
Mr Gribbin has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; an aggressive form of blood cancer.
It was a shocking diagnosis after a few years of good health, but talking to Mr Gribbin at his home during a brief break from intensive chemotherapy in Sydney, one sound rings louder than all others.
Laughter.
Surrounded by his Rotary mates, the jokes, ribbing and banter flow freely.
Mr Gribbin laughed after he said his mate Brian Singh would look like Malcolm Naden once his head was shaved on Friday night.
The Rotary Club Mr Gribbin helped found 10 years ago, Tamworth Sunrise, has rallied around the founding president as he receives cancer treatment.
The club has been fundraising for the Leukaemia Foundation through the World's Greatest Shave, with 12 people shaving their hair for their mate Gribbo on Friday night.
"Every fourth and eighth day, I have chemo in my spine," Mr Gribbin said.
"It's f*****g horrible, but I'm reading all of these jokes, and laughing, in the email trail about this head shave, I was just laughing so much the nurses were wondering what was wrong with me."
Current president Nic Hinwood said the head shaving was a show support for Gribbo and, even though it put more than $8000 in the charity bank, it was never about money.
"It sort of snowballed ... and really shows Steve that we give a shit," Mr Hinwood said.
But the care the club has shown for Steve and his wife Faye is more valuable than any laughs or amount of money.
Mrs Gribbin is moved to tears as soon as she begins to recount the smallest things the Rotary Club has offered.
"The pool has been cleaned," she said.
"If I want anything done, they just come and do it.
"Offers to mow the lawn, anything that I need is done.
"They're a wonderful group of guys."
The club has lost members to cancer in the past and the grief has forged a very tight-knit group, as Mr Hinwood explained.
"Through that bond of the club, we all just pulled together and I think Rotary, our club in particular, is better than insurance, it's not about money, it's just the support you've got and you can always rely on," he said.
"I never worry about Lisa and the kids, it's just such a strong thing beyond any friendship.
"It makes it sound like a cult," he said with a laugh.
It's the same sort of help which was extended to Mr Gribbin during the saga of his liver transplant.
"Blokes were here mowing my lawn, it's just stuff you don't have to worry about," he said
"It really makes it easier just to concentrate on trying to get well and stick with the program."
The head shaving will be held at the Tamworth City Bowling Club on Friday from 6pm.