Mr Mowbray said Wagga doctor Narada Hapangama "took the bull by the horns" and initially set him on his path to recovery when he was diagnosed in 2017 with a rare head and neck cancer.

Following several doctors visits in Wagga, Canberra and Wollongong, Mr Mowbray met associate professor Chris Milross, director of radiation oncology at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Sydney which he described as a one-stop cancer centre.

Former Kooringal High School teacher, Mr Mowbray hopes to secure a Lifehouse outreach program in Wagga by participating in its "Go the Distance" fundraiser.

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Mr Mowbray is determined to avoid Wagga residents' cancer outcomes being determined by their postcode by embarking on a 454-kilometre walk to raise funds to help establish an outreach program in Wagga.

"Lifehouse recognises that country patients do it tough and it's expensive and difficult for them," he said.

"I'm participating to help country patients like me to access the best available treatments in the country as their survival rates are higher than anyone else.

"Lifehouse treats more than half the head and neck cancer patients in the country and because it's a rare disease - they get good at it.

"I want to help people get to this great place so I wanted to be part of the fundraiser and pay a little back."

Walking around the streets of Wagga, Mr Mowbray will walk the equivalent distance throughout August between his home and the centre in Sydney where he received his treatment.

He is ahead of schedule having completed 281km, which computes to an average walk of 14km per day to complete his remaining 173km for the rest of this month.

He is calling for donations to support his cause - ex-students, teachers he worked with, golfing buddies, old school friends and Turvey Park rugby league teammates.

"Anyone that would think of buying me a coffee please donate the money to Lifehouse instead," Mr Mowbray said.

"This is all to help Wagga and the Riverina - not me, I'm just paying a little bit back.

"I've been in touch with Lifehouse and have an agreement in principle to have an outreach program in Wagga, but it'll take a lot of money.

"It would be such a benefit to have in Wagga; I'll try to work with the Cancer Council, local doctors and dentists that can be educated and patients can be assessed in Wagga if we had an outreach program here."

Donation details: https://www.gothedistance.org.au/fundraisers/paulmowbray.

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