His show of strength has defied the odds of survival associated with the condition.

The Brain Tumour Charity, the world's largest dedicated funder of brain cancer research, says the average survival time for people with the condition is 12-18 months.

Even more daunting is that only 25 per cent of patients survive more than one year.

"I'll never forget the day the doctor came in my room in the hospital and told me what type of tumour it was," Mr Reid, in his early 50s, said.

"He wrote it on a piece of paper and told me, but it meant nothing to me.

"So that night, I looked it up online while in hospital and bawled my eyes out."

His strength to carry on meant he was able to hand nearly $55,000 to the Mark Hughes Foundation from a fundraising ball in June.

Mr Hughes, a former Newcastle Knights player, also attended the ball, organised between the Reid family and good friend Kayleen Lawrence.

The recent handover of the funds, which will go to promoting research and supporting brain cancer patients, coincided with the annual Daffodil Day last Friday.

Mr Reid said family and community support, as well as the desire to make the most out of life, are what keeps him going despite some days being more frustrating than others.

"You don't have a choice, you've got to be strong," he said.

"It is what is now and I have to deal with it."

The qualified plasterer, born and bred in Wagga, said he continues to go to Sydney for MRIs and treatment, costing nearly $2000 each time.

However, Mr Reid and his family said they prefer to focus on ways to help organisations dedicated to cancer research and support, including Wagga Can Assist.

His wife, Cathy, said the Mark Hughes Foundation was "overwhelmed by the amount of money raised".

"We wanted to do something to help the cause and the fundraising keeps us positive," Mrs Reid said.

The ball was the second major fundraiser by the Reid family. Last year, they did the 'Beanies 4 Brain Cancer' walk around Lake Albert to raise funds for the foundation.

"The community support has been amazing, it really has blown us away," Mrs Reid said.

As for her husband's condition, Mrs Reid said she and their three daughters try to keep things light-hearted to help cope with the situation.

They call the tumour Terrence.

"Terrence gets blamed for a lot of things in this house. Whenever things go wrong, it's Terrence's fault," Mrs Reid said.

"We do try to keep it positive and joke around."

Their daughters - Maddie, Laura and Alyce - agree that being positive is the best way to get through each day. "It's been an emotional roller coaster," Laura said.

Already in the works are plans about future fundraisers to raise awareness about brain cancer.