ILAWARRA truck driver Peter Rennex has seen how tough it can be for child cancer sufferers and their families.
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He has been through heartache himself - his older sister Tracey died at 21 from muscular atrophy in 1999 - and this is one of his big motivations for taking part in the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy this Sunday.
Mr Rennex will drive a Kenworth K200 truck lent by Unanderra firm JBT Haulage Pty Ltd. He will be joined by his wife Amanda and children, Jaxon, Noah, Beau and Scarlett.
It is the sixth Convoy for the Rennexs - the first two Mr Rennex drove for his employers All Roads Transport but in the last four years he entered on his own, borrowing prime movers from friends and contacts.
Mr Rennex said as a child his sister was often in hospital for her muscular atrophy.
"I pretty much grew up in the children's ward at Wollongong Hospital," he said.
"I've seen so many kids with cancers and it hits home when you know that someone else is a lot worse off. I've always been brought up that way, always give and you'll get back."
Mr Rennex has set up an account for Convoy donations and has approached businesses, family and friends, as well as holding a garage sale.
He said Coastal Windows owner Rob Starcic, who led the 2013 Convoy after raising $114,000, had encouraged him in his fund-raising efforts.
The Convoy is in its 10th year. In 2013 782 trucks and 900 motorbikes took part, raising nearly $1.2 million for kids with cancer and their families.
It starts at Westcliff Colliery at 8am on November 16, travelling down Mount Ousley, through Warrawong and Shellharbour and ending at Croome Road, Albion Park Rail.