Shell Cove resident Lyndell Farmer-Smith has organised a fundraising walk on the Kiama Coast Walk for Sunday, March 19 in aid of Breast Cancer Network Australia.

She said 40 walkers had already signed up to “turn the South Coast pink for the day” and tackle the 22km pathway accompanying the municipality’s coastline.

“This walk is a fundraising event for the (BCNA's) Great Aussie Outback Trek which I am taking part in this August,” Mrs Farmer-Smith said. 

“I will be spending five days trekking 70km of the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory as part of a team raising funds for the BCNA.”

Mrs Farmer-Smith’s fundraising efforts were motivated by her mother Robyn being diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2016. 

This closely followed her mother undergoing surgery for bowel cancer. 

“Not long after she was diagnosed with breast cancer the trek in the Northern Territory came up in my Facebook feed,” Mrs Farmer-Smith said. 

“I went, ‘that’s something I can do, something I’ve always wanted to do’. 

“I have a personal fundraising target of $2500 which I have already collected about $1300.

“I am hoping that this walk will raise another $1000 towards my target and go on to help both men and women with information and support they need when they are diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Money raised will go directly to the Breast Cancer Network Australia.”

Mrs Farmer-Smith said her mother had been operated on and undergone treatment for breast cancer.

“At the moment everything’s clear, so it’s now a matter of just keeping those annual checks up on it,” she said.

“She was lucky that she got to it quite early and they were able to remove the lump and treat it with radiotherapy.” 

Mrs Farmer-Smith, 46, said the Kiama walk would also be handy preparation for her more extensive trek later in the year.

“It will definitely be a training session for the big one,” she said. 

The Kiama walk will start at 8am at the entrance to the Minnamurra River. 

Those interested in taking part can register for $20 per person, and are welcome to turn up on the day to participate. 

For more details on the walk, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/188113611683984/188114488350563/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1489051625772326 

To donate to her efforts, visit the https://bcnagreataussieoutbacktrek.gofundraise.com.au/page/lyndellfarmer-smith website.