David Anstee was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (known as NF) – a neurological illness causing tumours to grow within nerves both inside and outside the body – when he was just 14. 

After moving to Griffith and discovering an Australian-based charity committed to bettering the lives of those with the illness, he was determined to help make lives better for others.

For the last few months, he has been collecting bottles from the return and earn scheme to donate money to the Children’s Tumour Foundation of Australia. 

“I was around 14 – 15 when I was diagnosed at the children’s hospital in Randwick. I was there for something unrelated,” he said. 

“Lumps didn’t really start appearing until my twenties, both on the skin and internally.” 

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Unable to work as he waits for surgery, Mr Anstee decided he wanted to help out in some way. 

“I felt like I was sitting at home doing nothing, so I figured ‘the return and earn is coming.’ Why don’t I collect bottles and cans and see if I can raise some money for this charity?”

While not all tumours are cancerous, he says they have the potential to impact on quality of life and can be quite painful.

Mr Anstee said for some people really struggle with the disease. 

“Some people don’t even know they’ve got it. It affects everyone differently. People can have no issues but for a lot of people it can be very painful and debilitating,” he said. 

“It can be disfiguring. You can have tumours grow on the face.” 

Donations can be arranged by contacting Mr Anstee on 0410 101 050 or by emailing dvd@optusnet.com.au

“The more the merrier,” he said. 

For more information on NF or the foundation itself, visit http://www.ctf.org.au