Imagine planning a bucket list at age 19. Tauranga's Troy McVeigh is writing his. He has a rare muscle cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma and it's incurable.

Troy and Jessica McVeigh. Photo: supplied.

His 24-year-old sister Jessica McVeigh wants to raise $10,000 for her 'baby brother” to tick off some of his wishlist before she has to say goodbye.

'I just want him to be able to do the few things that make him happy,” says Jessica. 'It's what we all want.”

He's been on a glider flight and has been able to purchase his dream car – an RX7 – with the funds raised so far. Rotary specialists Green Brothers Racing Ltd built him one for cheap.

'It's a bit expensive to run and of course he wants a bigger engine for it,” says Jessica. So that's what she'll aim to get him.

Troy was feeling ill about a week before the cancer was confirmed at a medical centre in Te Puke on July 9 last year, when a CT scan showed lumps in his groin, pelvis and lower back.

After months of chemotherapy, the cancer has begun progressing after six weeks of finishing treatment.

'How sick he got has been absolutely nasty,” says Jessica. 'It's horrible. We've had a pretty tough time.” Troy's mother took him to the hospital two weeks ago when he woke up with numb legs.

A tumour growing around his Th-6 vertebrae was crushing his spinal cord. He's had five doses of radiation to stop it growing and to shrink it. Some damage was permanent though.

He has a second tumour on his hip, making it difficult for him to lift his foot – the one he uses on the clutch.

His doctors are deciding whether to treat the tumours on his shoulder and Th-12 vertebrae that's causing him pain.

'Mum and dad are with him all day every day,” says Jessica. They stay on a mattress at the hospital.

He's now having palliative care and will start maintenance chemotherapy – a low strength chemo – to possibly slow the growth. Although it's not certain if, or for how long, this will work.

Jessica says he couldn't walk about a week ago. Now he's back at home and has only just been able to drive his RX7 since receiving radiation therapy.

To donate to Troy's bucket list, visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/troymcveigh