What would you do if you knew you were dying of cancer?

A Nova Scotia man who was diagnosed with melanoma is facing that tough reality head-on with his family and they are making the most of their time together, with help from their community of Wellington.

Brent Garrison does not know how much time he has left.

The 37-year-old discovered a small bump on his back two-and-a-half years ago. Despite multiple surgeries, the aggressive cancer has spread throughout his body.

“Be careful in the sun and it can happen to anyone,” says Garrison. “Melanoma sounds like a cancer that stays with the skin, but it's one of those cancers that can go everywhere.”

Medication helps to numb his pain and a special diet that cuts out sugar and carbs is part of Garrison’s treatment.

As he tries to concentrate on his health, he also has to run his business.

“Asking for help has been hard but we need it. I can't imagine where we'd be without it,” says his wife, Melanie.

Their friends and community are coming together to provide the family with some relief. Tracey Dickson started an online fundraising site to help support the Garrisons.

“They've been willing to help others. So when our opportunity came to help them, people stepped in,” says Dickson.

The fundraising goal was initially set at $10,000 and in a month, that amount has been surpassed and tripled - generosity for which the Garrison family is grateful.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable, I couldn’t have imagined,” he says.

An auction and dance fundraiser for the family, set to take place on June 22 in Fall River, is already sold out.

“Having to rely on other people to do things I would normally be doing, it's hard accepting. I see how much good has come out of it for my wife and kids,” says Garrison.

He says it also allows him the time to cherish each moment with his loved ones.

“If things keep going the way they're going, they say I probably won't make it until the end of the summer,” he says. “If someone tells me I have two months, at least we're fitting in all these fun things, right?”

He also hopes people will heed his words of wisdom.

“Live life like you're dying, live it to the fullest.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Felicia Yap