The Worrigee resident watched as as cancer took her parents, Cliff and Eileen Stedfut, and she is now doing something that might stop others from suffering the same anguish.

She is a member of the Shoalhaven/Nowra Relay for Life committee and her connection with the Cancer Council event started with the first local relay in 2004.

She attended the first relay with her father, who was a member of the Bomaderry Lions Club and Nowra’s first taxi driver, and when her mother succumbed to the disease she entered a team, The Love Bears, in the event.

Mrs Lucas said her children Tasha and Kyle, for the last five years, have been the two of the mainstays of The Love Bears.

Being part of the relay helped Tasha and Kyle, who lived with their grandparents when they were both going through chemotherapy, grieve.

“They saw how harsh the sickness can be,” she said

“It has been good for them to be part of the relay and be with others who understand what they are going through.

“They feel free to talk about things at the relay.”

Relay For Life is a chance for local people to form teams to remember and celebrate those who have overcome cancer or are undergoing treatment.

Relay also provides an opportunity to celebrate the memory of loved ones lost to cancer and the 2016 event will be held at the Nowra Showground over 24 hours starting Saturday April 2.

The Love Bears, by being part of the relay, are helping get funds for research, education and support services.

Mrs Lucas loves that so many advances are being made.

“About 25 years ago cancer was known as the Big C and nobody wanted to talk about it,” she said.

Last year Mrs Lucas was sponsorship coordinator and said the local community’s generosity was heartwarming.

“People were like ‘what can we do for you’ when they heard what the sponsorship was for,” she said.

Mrs Lucas is now the event’s co-chairperson this year and for more information go to www.cancercouncil.com.au and search for the Shoalhaven/Nowra relay.