Ms Wynd, who is on the organising committee for the Corangamite Relay for Life which was held in Terang at the weekend, took part in her first event about 20 years ago with her mother.

Two decades later and she is still taking part in the relay which she says is “most definitely worth it” despite the emotional and physical toll.

Organisers were happy with the weekend’s event which is held in different towns across the shire each year.

More than 300 people joined 16 teams who raised $40,855 at the weekend bringing the total raised during the Corangamite event’s nine-year history to $911,000.

Each year the event is held in a different town throughout the shire and this year there was a petting zoo, merry-go-round and a children’s film.

There was also a reflection tent surrounded by candles which allowed people to just sit. 

“It was really quite special,” Ms Wynd said.

Ms Wynd has been walking with the Brady Bunch team since the inaugural Corangamite event nine years ago.

Before that she joined her mother’s team in Geelong who were walking for a friend. “Mum hadn’t been diagnosed at that stage,” Ms Wynd said.

“Dad died first and mum a few years after.

“She was a heavy smoker and he died of passive smoking.”

Ms Wynd’s mother was eventually diagnosed with brain cancer, and her grandfather lost his battle with bowel cancer.

“Back in the day when my grandfather died of bowel cancer, prognosis was fairly dismal,” she said.

Ms Wynd said there had been great advances in treatment since then, and was motivated to join the relay each year to help fund more research.

“I know we’re doing it for a good cause,” she said.

“You just hope you kids and grandkids benefit from it.

“I don’t think there’s many people who haven’t been touched by cancer.”

Ms Wynd said they were desperately trying to attract more committee members and people to help run the event.