Melissa Vining intends to keep campaigning for cancer reform next year as she spends her first few months without her husband, Blair.

The Southland family were launched into the spotlight this year after Blair was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer in October last year when he was just 38.

Initially given just three months to live, he was then told to wait eight weeks for an "urgent appointment" with an oncologist.

In January, Melissa stood on stage with Blair next to her, in front of hundreds of cancer experts, and looked directly at Health Minister David Clark to tell him he had failed her family, 

The rugby fanatic started a Facebook page called "Blair Vining's Epic Journey" which encouraged thousands of New Zealanders to share their story.

He helped the Herald launch a special cancer investigation which revealed that hundreds of cancer sufferers received large taxpayer-funded payouts after being let down by the public health system. More than $15 million has been paid out in the past five years after patients were misdiagnosed, or diagnosed too late.

Then, he led New Zealand's biggest-ever cancer petition gathering more than 150,000 signatures from people who backed his calls for an independent agency.

The campaign led to the Government launching a Cancer Action Plan to better address the disparities in cancer care around the country. 

Blair passed away in October after seeing his dream realised, but as Melissa told Tim Dower, their fight is not over yet.

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