UP to 5000 sportspeople from across the North East will ply their trade in coloured socks while raising vital cancer awareness over the coming months.

Having been diagnosed with cancer for the first time 14 years ago, legendary Ovens and Murray footballer and Markwood resident Terry Greaves recently launched the 'Terry Socks it to Cancer' campaign, in an effort to raise vital funds and awareness for the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust.

As a result, footballers and netballers from the Hume, Tallangatta, Upper Murray, Ovens and King and Ovens and Murray football and netball leagues have committed to don either yellow, blue or magenta socks over one of three weekends in May or June, the colours of the trust's logo.

After initially being given six months to live when he was diagnosed with a metastatic melanoma in early 2020, Mr Greaves said the opportunity to receive treatment locally had played an important role in his cancer entering remission and his life expectancy improving to five years.

"Some 14 years ago I got diagnosed with cancer for the first time and spent five years travelling down to Melbourne – it takes a lot of time out of your day," he said.

"It's very important that we have a really good centre here – it makes it so much easier to be treated in your local area.

"Albury Wodonga is probably one of the better regional cancer centres, so it just gets it out there for people like me who never thought it was there until something happens."

With all funds raised set to contribute to new services, facilities and research at the cancer centre, Ovens and King Football Netball League manager Cam Green said the socks were a creative way to further the local conversation around cancer treatment.

"They're very cool, very funky and obviously if it's easy to notice, people are going to ask you what the go and what it's for" he said.

"Hopefully it's going to make for a pretty big day."

Clubs can purchase the socks by visiting https://shop.locosportswear.com.au/collections/afl–north–east–border.