text: For Chris Brugger the cost of staying alive is $16,000 every three weeks. This is what the New South Wales leukaemia patient must pay for a new drug treatment that is keeping him alive. The 35-year-old, father-of-two from Griffith says the non-taxpayer subsidised treatment for his Hodgkin's disease - Brentuximab Vedotin - has improved his condition dramatically. It's for this reason that his 'My Name Is Chris' campaign and website was created to help raise the money needed for his treatment as it can't be distributed on the current Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Scroll down for video . The Brugger family (from left to right: Tomas, Naomi, Liam and Chris) attended a Senate inquiry on Monday in Canberra . Chris relaxs at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre as he receives his first dose of Brentuximab in January . The 35-year-old has had no shortage of support from his friends during his treatment . He's now been able to go back to work part-time in between travelling to Sydney for medical treatment. His family argue that it also reinforces why it is essential to get Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment, Brentuximab Vedotin, on the PBS. 'My Name is Chris' was launched in mid-January following confirmation of Chris's relapse in December, and it has made a huge difference,' Chris's wife Naomi told Daily Mail Australia. 'Words can't describe! Without the campaign, we simply would not be able to afford to access Brentuximab. The Brugger family are hoping that the new treatment will mean there are happier times ahead . Chris and his son Tomas share a hug in hospital in December after Chris hears the devastating news he had relapsed . Chris and his one-year-old son Liam enjoy some time out together . 'Mentally it has also had a huge impact on Chris, he literally thought he was going to die in December, by the end of January he was feeling well, and inspired to fight harder than ever before.' Some of the fundraising that has taken place and donations given to the campaign have hugely raised his spirits too, with people's generosity taking him aback. 'Individually we had a $5,000 anonymous donation,' Chris told Daily Mail Australia. 'Over Easter we held the Festival of Chris which raised $15,000 as well as an event 'Celebrazione' at De Bortoli Wines Bulbil where we operated the BBQ and gate, collecting $3425.40. A hospital bill shows the $16,000 cost of Chris's Brentuximab Vedotin treatment . It's not just adults that have been helping - kids also proudly wear 'My Name Is Chris' T-shirts that have been purchased . 'De Bortoli Wines matched that, meaning we raised $6850.80 - so in two days we raised close to $22,000.' One donation in particular stood out for Chris and showed humanity at its best. It took place in March when Chris was at a fishing event - the Bidgee Classic selling merchandise for the 'My Name is Chris' campaign. 'A young boy, maybe 8 or 9 years old was talking to him and said his grandma had passed away from cancer,' Chris explains. 'He then disappeared and came back with a handful of coins - he donated all that he had to help. 'This was extremely moving and quite emotional.' A cricket bat signed by all the Australian team was just one item that was auctioned to help raise money for Chris's treatment . Chris has been humbled by the generosity that has been shown to him in recent months . It's been a taxing time for Chris, his wife Naomi, 32, and his two young sons Tomas, 4, and Liam, 1, but they remain positive that thanks to his treatment they will still share many happy years together. 'The immediate future is all about survival and raising the profile of My Name is Chris in order to educate others about cancer, medications, their options and taking their health into their own hands,' Naomi says. 'Beyond that, Chris hopes the future is bright. Brentuximab is working which means he will be around for a good while yet to enjoy being a dad to Liam and Tomas and take back his life. A Shannon Noll signed shirt was overwhelmingly popular at a recent auction for the cause . Chris's treatment at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre has been going well . 'It's important to remember cancer is a word, not a sentence.' 9 News also reports that Naomi told a Senate inquiry on Monday of the family's initial distress when trying to raise the sum for each dose of the new drug treatment. 'It's been hard going, I've been away from the boys,' she told the inquiry hearing in Canberra. A Penrith Panthers jersey signed by all the team also generated plenty of interest at auction . 'They're not only missing out on dad, they're missing out on mum who's trying to keep Dad alive.' Naomi told the hearing about the death of two other patients in December because they could not get affordable access to the drugs. The most concerning issue was the time it took for drug treatments to get approved for subsidies from the government regulator.
target: 35-year-old, father-of-two from Griffith suffers from Hodgkin's disease .
  He says the non-taxpayer subsidised treatment improved his condition .
  The treatment costs a total of $16,000 every three weeks .
  His 'My Name Is Chris' campaign helped raise money needed for treatment .
  It has been so successful he has been able to go back to work part-time .
  'My Name is Chris' was launched in mid-January following Chris's relapse .