AS WELL as spreading Christmas cheer, one Bendigo home is hoping to raise funds for the Cancer Council this holiday season.
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Janine Dole's Taplan Court house has been shining bright through December with Christmas lights.
Now the Golden Square resident has enlisted the help of her cousin Kylie Fisk for a quirky fundraiser.
Kylie, who is from Bendigo, and her husband Greg Fisk own a vintage fire truck which they bought after Greg's first wife died from cancer in 2008.
The truck is a 1985 International Acco fire truck, formerly used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Greg bought it with plan of making it a source of happiness to people and families.
"I sadly lost my late wife to breast cancer and became a widower and single father at the age of 36 to my little baby boy James (aged 3)," Greg said.
"Sadly everybody knows someone who has had cancer.
"I knew from that moment, out of despair and sadness, I wanted to be a source happiness to other people and families who have gone through a similar experience whether emotionally or physically.
"That's when 'Fisky's Firetruck' was purchased (in 2010) to support families and charities and also to show my son he was never alone."
Janine has also lost her parents and a neighbour to cancer, prompting the decision to raise funds for the Cancer Council.
"I just want to do it all - the lights and the fire truck - for the kids," she said.
"I dress in a Christmassy cape and love seeing the children with a smile on their faces.
"Last year we had a fire truck from Golden Square but this year I rang Greg and he just said 'sure thing'. Hopefully the weather is beautiful and everyone gets along."
Greg said part of his mission with the truck was to raise awareness for cancer and other charities close to people's hearts.
"It brings me joy and comfort to know that I'm doing my bit," he said.
"And that someone else does not have to go through their troubles alone, I am here to support as best I can.
"One of my highlights each year is Christmas time, decorating the truck in Christmas tinsel, dressing up as Santa and taking my family to local areas including Ivanhoe Boulevard, or to Bendigo, visiting families and throwing out lollies to as many kids as we can.
"The joy and excitement on their faces is priceless, whether it's from a 90-year-old lady to a two-year-old child, it makes our Christmas more special and Fisky's Fire Truck never fails to deliver joy and happiness."
Janine has decorated her house for the last three years and her display won a local radio competition last year.
She has aimed higher again with this year's display.
"We did go bigger this year, with more lights and a gigantic start hat my husband made," Janine said.
"We have also got 500 lollipops to give away with Santa visiting between 7pm and 8pm. I leave the lights on until 11pm but people are usually still going past then."
Fisky's Fire Truck and Santa will visit the Taplan Court home on Christmas Eve between 7pm and 8pm.
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