Max's story has brought out the best in people across western NSW as his parents Amy and Rob and friends such as Bathurst's Paul Twohill have harnessed the power of social media in a fundraising campaign they hope will save and improve the quality of his life.

Long distance runner Paul was in Melbourne with his mate Rob when Rob took that terrible call to tell him his son Max was seriously ill and he needed to fly back to Sydney urgently.

"Rob had been getting updates on Max's condition the night before but it seemed like symptoms of teething or a cold," Paul said.

"When he was told Max was being airlifted to Sydney we just got Rob to the airport and out of Melbourne. It was surreal but shocking."

That was late last February.

"I don't exactly know why - who can explain the reasons for our own personal reactions to such sadness - but I have not cut my hair since hearing that tragic news," Paul posted on the Facebook page, Hair for Max, that he has created as a fundraiser to help the McIntyres pay for Max's ongoing treatment.

And in a few weeks he will shave his head as another part of the challenge to raise $100,000 for stem cell treatment to improve the quality of Max's life.

The shave-off is timed to coincide with an important event in Paul's life - his favourite endurance race, the iconic Six Foot Track Marathon from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves which is run on the second Saturday of March.

Last year's event fell a few weeks after Max was struck down and Paul ran the race with Max's name etched on his arm.

"Whenever I hit a rough patch in this gruelling event I'd glance at Max's name and it would give me a boost," he said.

"This year he will run it bald but there will be more hope in his heart that the quality of Max's life can be improved by stem cell treatment.

Paul is using social media to invite people to issue personal running challenges in exchange for a donation to Hair for Max so his last few weeks have been exhausting.

He clocked up 177 kilometres in one week including multiple ascents of Mount Panorama, scaling Mount Ovens and completing a challenging 35-kilometre trail run in the Blue Mountains where he got lost, then found, but finished having to pick leeches off his legs.

Compared to all that, shaving his head and beard will be a walk in the park and as Paul said: "It's all worth it if it helps little Max".

Donations can be made via the Hair for Max page on Facebook or leave some money in a donation tin at Elie's Cafe and Crema at Bathurst. If you would like to buy a sticker, go to the Yellow For Max Facebook page, email yellow for-max@gmail.com.