He is one of the PAYCE Sutherland 2 Surf's oldest entrants and Kevin Penson remains keen to do all he can to help save lives on the beaches.
Mr Penson, from Botany, will enter his 12th Sutherland 2 Surf on Sunday at the age of 89.
He has not been deterred despite being not long out of hospital and regularly trains at the gym three times per week.
Mr Penson is no stranger to surf lifesaving, having joined Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club in 1947 as a 17-year-old.
As well as being part of the boat crew, Mr Penson was one of the club's stalwarts and an active member, never missing a patrol and always supporting and attending fundraising activities.
The Sutherland 2 Surf is Wanda Surf Lifesaving Club's main fundraising event for the year.
"Everyone is busy. I know how hard it is to get people to volunteer but I still like to do my bit," Mr Penson said.
"Supporting the Sutherland to Surf means I can continue to help the fundraising effort that protects and saves lives on our beaches."
Mr Penson has run the race in the past but will be walking this year with the other 30 per cent of entrants who choose to walk.
"It is people like Kevin that Wanda Surf Lifesaving Club want to say a big thank you too because without your support, entering the race year after year, the PAYCE S2S would not be the great day out, community event that it is today," Wanda SLSC president Mark Sargeant said.
The iconic shire race, now in its 48th year, will take its usual route from Sutherland to Don Lucas Reserve at Wanda Beach.
The 11-kilometre fun run and walk is the shire's longest running community event, with about 6,000 participants expected to enter again this year.
A number of elite athletes are again expected to compete, including Canberra pair Arron Spiessberger and Leanne Pompeani and last year's winners Kevin Batt and shire resident Belinda Martin.
In some of the coldest conditions for the race in recent memory - with temperatures hovering around the five degree mark - Martin was the first female home in a time of 37 minutes and one second. Ireland's Batt was the first male over the finish line in 32:39.
Online entries close at midnight on Wednesday. Late entries are open until Saturday at Wanda SLSC and on race day.
Details: sutherland2surf.com.au