Former Wallaby Joe Roff to join Walk4BrainCancer at Mount Stromlo Park

The former Wallaby will join hundreds of other Canberrans whose loved ones have been affected by brain cancer, to help raise awareness and funding for research into the disease.

Mr Roff knew little about the strain of cancer until his brother Jake was diagnosed with one of its more aggressive manifestations last year.

Jake succumbed to the grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme in February, leaving behind his wife and children.

The Roff family's experiences during Jake's brave eight-month battle motivated Joe to become an advocate for further research into the cancer, which is among the leading causes of childhood death in Australia.

"The mortality rates for brain cancer largely haven't changed in the last 25 years," he said.

"It's still one of the leading causes of death for young people and yet we can't seem to make inroads into tackling the disease, so we need to raise awareness and funding to do that."

The walk through Stromlo Forest Park is a way for locals to honour their friends or relatives struggling through, or who lost the battle, with brain cancer, as well as to provide funding to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

Only 20 per cent of patients with brain cancer survive for five years or beyond. The foundation's chief executive, Catherine Stace, said the goal of the fundraising was to boost that survival rate to 50 per cent of patients.

"Every dollar raised propels us closer to increasing the survival rate of brain cancer and accelerating lifesaving treatments for patients," she said.

Mr Roff said the sustained awareness and fundraising campaigns for breast and prostate cancer had drastically improved the lives of people affected by the diseases.

He said the same spotlight should be shone on brain cancer to help researchers and patients.

"Some people go through it alone, and with financial burdens, and with the burden of what the disease does to you – your personality and character," he said.

"It's difficult on so many different levels. That's why we need to continue to support research and those people with it directly."

The generosity of Canberrans to locals going through hard times struck Mr Roff during Jake's fight.

"The wonderful thing about Canberra is it really looks after its own, so there were enormous displays of support to help support the drain on the cost of treatment and living."

The Canberra event will begin at Stromlo Forest Park at 9am on Sunday and will run through to 2pm. More information can be found on the Walk4BrainCancer website.