I really wanted to find a meaningful way to honour her and help raise awareness around the disease that still isn’t talked about enough, especially as we’re seeing it affect more and more young people too.

Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer at 59, after pushing her doctor for further testing. She explained that she felt foggy, unmotivated and like something wasn’t right. It wasn’t until her blood results came back that they requested a colonoscopy.

When she told my brother, sister and I about her diagnosis, she did it with a smile. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry about me”. And in true Deb fashion, she lived the fullest next 2 years. Travelling, laughing, and spending time with the people she loved. During those 2 years, so much happened. I fell pregnant. My sister got engaged.

In November 2022, Mum was told treatment was no longer working. So what did she do? Booked us a family holiday to Satellite Island in Tasmania, something that was top of her bucket list. It was Mum and Dad, my brother and sister, and all of our partners. The most special and memorable week ever. From there, everything happened quickly.

My sister got married in December. I had my baby shower a week later. We travelled to Melbourne for Christmas. I got married on January 7th, engaged for just 45 days and was 35 weeks pregnant. Mum got to be there for all of it.

She was admitted to hospital shortly after I got married, and she passed away on the 21st of January. 4 weeks later I had my first daughter, Maggie.

Through everything, Mum showed so much strength and determination and positivity. She became passionate about moving her body and getting outdoors.

This trek isn’t something I typically would have signed up for, but it seems like the perfect way to honour her.

If sharing her story encourages even one person to have a conversation, get checked, or recognise the early signs then every step will be worth it.”

Thank you, Grace, for sharing Deb’s story and honouring her through our Trek – her legacy continues through you.

If you’d like to donate to Grace’s ‘Team Deb’ The JLF Trek & Trail Run fundraising page, you can make a donation here: https://fundraise.jodileefoundation.org.au/…/jlf-trek…

Funds raised support the work of the Jodi Lee Bowel Cancer Foundation to raise awareness for the prevention and early detection of bowel cancer through awareness campaigns and education programs across Australia.