A GROUP of volunteer tradies will soon lay the foundations of a house that will help cover cancer treatment costs for a Wagga mate.
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About two years ago, Geoff Reid was diagnosed with grade-four glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumour.
Then in August this year, his friend and building industry colleague Andrew White took it upon himself to turn a kind thought into a life-changing reality.
Mr White set the ball rolling on building a house at Boorooma's Kellerman Crescent, which will then be auctioned off with the funds donated to Mr Reid's medical costs.
On Tuesday, tradies were preparing the for concrete to be poured before Christmas.
Mr Reid, who is in his 50s, said the volunteers' efforts have been overwhelming and humbling.
"Without people like Andy and everyone here right now, who have taken upon themselves to get this going, dealing with it [cancer] would be a lot harder," he said.
"The work that goes into this sort of project is just phenomenal.
"Out of everyone here, there's two or three blokes I've never met before and they're still here."
Mr Reid, who helped raise nearly $55,000 in June for the Mark Hughes Foundation, said the community response has been strong.
"It does mean so much to us as a family," he said.
Mr Reid's next chemotherapy treatment will be on December 27.
The Brain Tumour Charity, the world's largest dedicated funder of brain cancer research, says the average survival time for people with grade-four glioblastoma is 12-18 months.
Even more daunting is that only 25 per cent of patients survive more than one year.
Mr Reid's wife, Cathy Reid, said the family was humbled by "all the people jumping in from nowhere to help".
"There are highs and lows throughout it all, then there are things like this that bring out emotions," Mrs Reid said.
Mr White said the response by those willing to help was stronger than he expected.
"We've added plumbers, builders, concreters, labourers, friends and families," he said.
"They've all been pitching in to help wherever and whenever they can."
Mr White thanked Rod McMullen from design company Icono for his work on the development application through council.
Anyone interested in helping this initiative may contact Geoff Reid or Andrew White at Riverina Plaster Works on 6921 5355.