SYDNEY Roosters supremo Steve Noyce might not be a Wests Tiger anymore but he's still a proud Campbelltonian.

In fact, I bumped into Steve, walking stick in hand (he's just had hip surgery), among the 1200 participants at the 24-Hour Fight Against Cancer on the weekend.

He and his wife, Kerry first-timers were simply blown away by the atmosphere.

``This has been going on for years but we really had no idea,'' Steve said. ``Next year, I want to get far more organised and return with a team.''

He's been bitten by the bug.

It's the same bug that gobsmacked me back in 2006 when I arrived at the Leumeah athletics track (basically out of duty as the editor) to meet and greet for an hour or two.

Or so I thought.

I ended up staying most of the weekend and then got my staff seriously hooked as well.

Needless to say, Team Advertiser has fielded every year since and this year we also became an event sponsor.

If you doubt the power of this addiction, I dare you to turn up to next year's 24-Hour Fight. I've lost count of how many ``visitors'' are now ``regulars''.

It's gone from a little fund-raiser led by a core of passionate cancer-fighters five years ago to a major landmark on our community calendar.

I can only see this year's record-breaking tally of 67 teams snowballing in 2010, as it starts to rival Fisher's Ghost Festival as the best annual measure of our town spirit.

Best of all, everyone involved is a volunteer we know that every cent we raise is going directly to local cancer care. That's why local doctors and nurses walk around with us.

And the large number of enthusiastic young people is particularly heartening.

Congrats to all the volunteer organisers, participants and the big line-up of local singers entertaining us all.

There's nothing good about cancer. It's a bastard. But the way we respond to it can also bring out our best.

Look no further than those three brave girls on our front page today an inspiration to every person on the track.

And they are only one story of many such stories.

See you next year. Please come along and get addicted.

jmcgill@fairfax med ia.com.au