Many people would be thrilled at the prospect of going skydiving. But Ellyn Proffit, who will skydive in Tauranga on Sunday is terrified.

'I've jumped out of a plane once before, many years ago, and swore I'd never do it again. But here I am, giving it another go," says Ellyn. 'This time, I'm doing it for my bosses.”

‘Bosses' is the name Ellyn has affectionately named the patients in her care.

She is a clinical nurse specialist with Te Whatu Ora and looks after 12–24-year-olds in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Tairawhiti regions who have a cancer diagnosis.

On average, every year there are about 40 young people diagnosed with cancer in these regions, and Ellyn makes sure they have the support and information they need to navigate their diagnosis.

On Sunday May 21, she, together with Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty CEO Helen Carter, will skydive in Jump for Cancer, a fundraising initiative for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch of the Cancer Society.

All money raised will help the Cancer Society provide free, practical support services to people currently fighting cancer, including transport to and from treatment, accommodation close to the hospital, community nursing, meals and more.

Ellyn, who is also on the board of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society and volunteers at the Cancer Society's Lions Lodge in Hamilton, says her patients are her ‘bosses' and she's there to serve and guide them.

'The way I approach my role is to build rapport with them, to build their trust so they believe the advice and information I'm giving them so they can make their own informed decisions. Young people have enough to deal with, so it's all about making the information clear and making sure the support they receive is practical and individually tailored to them.”

Ellyn is frank when she talks about the necessity of the Cancer Society, which supports patients in the far reaches of the Waikato Bay of Plenty region, including Coromandel, King Country, Rotorua, Taupo, Thames, Turangi and Gisborne/Tairawhiti.

'Without the awhi (care) and tautoko (support) of the Cancer Society, many of my patients, my bosses, wouldn't be alive today,” says Ellyn.

'A cancer diagnosis is devastating and thinking about it from an equity and access point of view, many cancer patients, particularly in isolated and rural areas, don't have the means or resources to get to treatment, or have the energy to make sure they're eating healthy kai to get through a tough round of chemotherapy.”

She says the cancer society, and the services they provide, take away those worries with their practical help of volunteer drivers, meals, and accommodation.

'I've had patients who might go, ‘nah, I can't get to treatment today, I feel too yuck,' or ‘I don't have the money to put petrol in the car to get there.' So, for the Cancer Society to just come in and take care of that, it's guaranteeing they get to treatment, and because of that their health outcomes and ability to survive are so much better.”

According to the Ministry of Health, cancer is New Zealand's single biggest cause of death, and most New Zealanders will have some experience of it in their lifetime, either personally or through family or friends.

If diagnosed early enough, many cancers are curable through treatment.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Cancer Society CEO Helen Carter says the Bay of Plenty region in particular needs more wraparound services to support cancer patients.

'We've chosen to skydive in Tauranga to stand alongside those fighting cancer and to highlight the incredible need for more cancer support services in the region,” says Helen.

'We know cancer patients' wellbeing drastically improves when patients feel supported, whether that's through practical measures such as transport to and from treatment or accommodation, or just by being able to talk to someone about what they're going through.

'We have a big, lofty goal to build a lodge near Tauranga Hospital so patients across Bay of Plenty can experience the warmth and support of having a home away from home during treatment, and we need the community's help.

'Please donate to Jump for Cancer so together we can make sure no one goes through cancer alone.”

To find out more and to donate, visit jumpforcancer.org.nz.