'Pink man' fights for better cancer care in regions

Harold Alford, fondly nicknamed the "pink man", is a local legend in Queensland's Kilcoy.

The "true gentleman" is known for his pink Akubra, pink clothes, pink gumboots, pink lawn bowls, pink scooter, and even a pink walking frame.

Cancer has touched the 85-year-old in almost every stage of his life, and his closest loved ones.

Harold's father died from bone cancer more than 60 years ago.

His daughter has been battling colon and lung cancer for 10 years.

His wife, Gladys Alford, was diagnosed with breast cancer 33 years ago.

She underwent eight years of chemotherapy, multiple operations, and towards the end, 35 consecutive days of radiation.

"Every day I drove her to Brisbane for radiation," Harold said.

"They wanted us to stay down there, but she was really old-fashioned, wanted to sleep in her own bed."

Gladys died on their 44th wedding anniversary.

Overcome with grief for his late wife, Harold had an idea that would colour the remainder of his years.

Man wears pink to regional pub

"I started wearing pink because I wanted to get the message out there about breast cancer," Harold said.

"And at that time, pink was the colour for breast cancer."

He donned the stereotypically feminine colour to play bowls, to his local golf club, and even at his local watering hole.

"I got called all sorts of names when I first started wearing pink," Harold said.

"When I explained to them why, they changed their attitude."

Two decades ago, it was uncommon for everyday Australians to speak freely about cancer, Harold said.

"Not only that it was a secret, but it was a sort of more or less a taboo subject," Harold said.

"But when I started to turn up in pink, there was a lot of talk about cancer."

Michelle Blogg, the Pink Up Kilcoy president, met Harold 10 years ago.

"I thought, 'Who's this guy? Why is he wearing pink all the time?' And then I learned the story about his lovely wife," she said.

"He's such a character in the community and he's one of nature's true gentlemen as well. He's just an amazing guy."

'Get out there and live'

Harold was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in December last year.

He was given 12 months to live and has opted out of chemotherapy or any other cancer treatment.

"I couldn't see myself making myself sick for three weeks every month. I'm not that sort of person," Harold said.

"I just like to get out there and live."

Regional town turns pink

He has dedicated his later years to raising awareness of cancer and fundraising for further research, care, and treatment options.

What started as one man's mission has united the town of Kilcoy.

Through Pink Up Kilcoy, they have raised about $30,000 for cancer care nurses through the McGrath Foundation.

"When you've got cancer, you need help," Harold said.

"I'm trying to get people to think about it, see if they can do something to raise money to any way they can help to get a cure for cancer."

Nearly every Aussie touched by cancer

McGrath Foundation ambassador and director, Tracey Bevan, said nearly one in two Australians were likely to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

"That's 450 people every single day," she said.

Ms Bevan said Harold's mission epitomised what the foundation stood for.

"Wearing pink every single day is so beautiful. But not only that, he's there showing his support and raising funds for other families who've had a cancer diagnosis," she said.

McGrath Foundation cancer care nurses provide free care, without referrals, to those in need.

"They make a difference clinically, physiologically, emotionally. They're there for the patient, not just the patient but their whole family," she said.

Harold said he regularly came across people affected by cancer in some way.

"It has become more or less an everyday subject, cancer, all sorts of cancer," he said.

"I'll keep wearing it [pink] for as long as I can. And anything I can do to support McGrath, anybody that's raising money for cancer, I will support as long as I can."

'Too late for me'

Harold said he would not stop fighting for better cancer care across regional Australia.

"We need people who can care for people in their homes without them having to drive for hundreds of kilometres," he said.

"People out in the west, they got no facilities out there for cancer.

"It's going to be too late for me, I know that, but I will do everything in my power while I'm alive to help to get cancer care nurses."