This time around, the retired Cromwell man will be on the track, taking part in the Lap of Honour tomorrow. He says he is privileged to be lining up at the Cromwell racecourse to walk in the opening lap, alongside others who have been diagnosed with cancer.
"Last time I was there as a spectator, supporting one of the teams, but this time I understand a bit more about what it's all about, through my own experience, and I'll be greatly honoured to walk in that opening lap, " he said.
Mr Ashby has a clean bill of health after an emergency operation for bowel cancer early last year, followed by a course of chemotherapy.
He spent New Year's Eve 2010 in Dunstan Hospital.
"I hadn't felt well that morning and went to the doctor on a Friday and they gave me a docket for an X-ray at Dunstan Hospital. I nearly didn't go that day because I thought they would be too busy, but I went in."
He spent a day or two in Dunstan and then went to Dunedin Hospital, had an MRI scan and "the next thing I knew, I was booked in for an operation.""There were no delays and I couldn't speak more highly of the medical team, both there and at Dunstan."
Mr Ashby counted himself "really lucky".
"I had nothing to complain about. I didn't have any pain, or no acute pain, and the people I met in hospital and at chemo, most were much worse off than I was, and suffering more, for long periods of time."
His daughter Anne Ashby-Neilson, of Cromwell, and wife Dawn said he remained "calm and collected".
Mr Ashby said the experience made him appreciate things more, including family. Support from his family will be evident this weekend. Two grandsons, Tim (21), of Dunedin, and Joel (17) Neilson, of Cromwell, will walk alongside him in the lap of honour, along with his son-in-law Steve Neilson and Dawn.
Steve and Joel are among musicians entertaining at the relay and Mr Ashby's daughter Anne is on the organising committee.
"I was asked to be involved, and Dad was my primary motivation. It was amazing to have been on that journey with him and you gained a real appreciation of what people go through," she said.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer at any time is welcome in the lap of honour.
They are asked to be at the racecourse by 11am tomorrow.
"There's 85 people registered so far ... those who are recently diagnosed, those who are going through treatment and those who are free of cancer, and their support people," Ms Ashby-Neilson said.
Relay For Life
Teams taking part: 64
People involved: More than 1000
Proceeds: Cancer Society support services and promotion resources, within Central Otago, also maintaining Kowhai House, some funding for cancer research
Where: Cromwell Racecourse
When: Tomorrow and Sunday
Starts: Noon tomorrow
