Two and a-half years ago, Dunedin woman and former baker Pat Barton began voluntary work, baking and preparing meals, and she has never looked back.
However, her road to recovery was not an easy one.
In 2014 she was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer, and treated with chemotherapy and radiation.
Mrs Barton said a couple of days after her diagnosis she went into a state of shock.
"I would lie there and cry and sort of think 'why me'?'' she said.
Her cancer was almost symptomless, apart from some bleeding, which she dismissed as being a haemorrhoid, but which eventually took her to the doctor and an expert.
"I think it has made me stronger, really really stronger than I was and it made me listen to my body.''
Her husband had been her "rock'' throughout her treatment, and she also wanted to pay the society back after receiving help from them during her illness and recovery, including a "beautiful'' survival blanket made by hand by volunteers.
Mrs Barton, who used to have her own bakery, said she was delighted to be able to help the Cancer Society.
She could spend whole days making two or three dozen meals and baking for people supported by the society.
"There's one lady, I do lamb's fry and bacon just for her, and bring it in.''
This Friday, on Daffodil Day, she would be helping the society again, not on the street but in the kitchen.
"I've come through it.
"I've got a better sense of humour, and I've got a positive outlook, and that's what you've got to have and you'll get through it,'' Mrs Barton said.
Mrs Barton said she felt stronger for her experience - and if she could get through to one person and encourage them to get checked up it was worth it.
