Janella Leotta has taken part in the Cancer Council’s annual Daffodil Day for 28 years – sh e has the bear and pin collection to prove it. 

Janella, who owns Harrington Service Station with her husband Vince, first started contributing by cooking and selling scones and daffodils to local businesses. 

Now the popularity of the day has grown substantially in the coastal community.

The Anglican Ministry Centre is set to deliver 166 morning teas as well as daffodils to businesses around Harrington today.

Headed by Gay Collison and Ruth Cheers, a large band of volunteers will cook, put together and deliver the morning teas. 

“It is the community of Harrington that does it, it’s truly gained its own momentum,” Janella said. 

“It’s a fun day, but it can also be a hard day for so many people.” 

Janella lost her mother and later, her step-mother to cancer. 

“You are a lotto winner to not know anyone who has had cancer, most of us have been touched.”

What fuels Janella’s passion is seeing the rates of recovery for cancer patients improving. 

“The quality of life of people with cancer now is a lot better than what it was. 

“I know there will be a cure for cancer one day – I firmly believe that.” 

Janella still holds her own fundraising activities at the service station. 

“We find it gives people the chance to come and talk about their journey. They may have lost someone near and dear to them,” she said. 

“One year I had someone hand me $100 and they just burst into tears. The next year they approached me and said it really helped them by doing something physically.”

Harrington Lions Club members cook breakfast at the service station from 6am. The service station will also host morning tea.

Stalls can be found outside the Harrington Bowling Club and Harrington VIEW Club will have stalls outside the Harrington Butchers and IGA. 

In Taree, the Quota Club of Taree will have stalls at Taree Central, Aldi store and Centrepoint Arcade.