Kiama’s Hughes family donate to vital research at Illawarra Cancer Centre

A Kiama family has thanked doctors and nurses at the Illawarra Cancer Centre in the most generous way possible.

Illawarra Cancer Centre's Dr Brungs, Deanna Hughes, Co-Director Cancer Services Nicola Ryan, Grant Hughes and nurse Vhari Dickson.

Charles Hughes may have been battling an aggressive terminal brain cancer, but in his final months, he and his loved ones made it their mission to try and prevent other families from suffering from the same disease.

Mr Hughes, from Kiama, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer in April 2019, and sadly lost his battle in October.

His son Grant said Mr Hughes was a “stoic man” who “always called a spade a spade”.

Charles and Deanna Hughes. Picture: Supplied

“He loved fishing, loved golf and genuinely loved family and the life that he had,” Grant said.

“(His diagnosis) cut his life short ... but he fought it, and he fought it till the end.”

While Mr Hughes spent his final days at home with his wife Deanna, he spent the months prior at The Illawarra Cancer Centre, under the care of Dr Daniel Brungs and Cancer Care Centre nurse Vhari Dickson.

While he could have complained, Grant said his dad “never whinged” and “never once said poor me, why did I get it”, instead assisting his family in organising a fundraiser to give back to the Illawarra Cancer Centre.

His family had planned to host a golf day to raise money for brain cancer research earlier this year, but the pandemic delayed the event, meaning Mr Hughes was not well enough to attend.

While he couldn’t make it, the Kiama community was right behind Mr Hughes, with his family raising a huge $10,000.

Grant and Deanna Hughes. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

On Tuesday, Deanna and Grant met with Dr Brungs and nurse Dickson, donating $10,000 to the Illawarra Cancer Centre, which will be used to support exciting research into Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA) in Glioblastomas.

“We are blown away by the generosity of this donation. Brain cancer is a very different cancer to treat and we are always looking for ways to improve treatment,” he said.

During their emotional reunion on Tuesday, Dr Brungs said the support of Mr Hughes’s family was key to his treatment

“This donation really means a lot to us at the cancer centre, we try our best for every patient and to get this gesture of gratitude is overwhelming,” he said.

“They are a lovely family and it was our honour to look after their dad, and husband. I can’t express how thankful we are.”