Monique Geasley can still remember her mother's strength and determination, even while she was going through cancer treatment.
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"My mum was amazing, she was so strong and she kept it really together and was such a real support in my life," Ms Geasley said.
Monique's mum Ann was diagnosed in 2008 with multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer that affects the plasma cells in bone marrow.
Ms Geasley said her mum went through several rounds of treatment in the years that followed, but died in 2016.
"She went through a few stages of it and it plateaued at one stage, but it came back, and the last time it was really bad," she said.
"Cancer's a very devastating disease, and it's not easy seeing someone go through that."
Looking to raise awareness for the rare form of cancer following her mum's death, Ms Geasley took up running in fun runs across Canberra and Sydney, helping to donate almost $5000 to cancer research in the three years since.
The Belconnen resident's next event is The Canberra Times Fun on November 10.
She said she's aiming to raise $1000 for the Cancer Council and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.
"I always wanted to do something, but after mum's death, it seemed clear after that," Ms Geasley said.
"I had never raised money for cancer research before going through what I did, and I wanted to make other people's lives who are in the same situation a lot easier.
"There needs to be something good that comes out of it all."
It's estimated multiple myeloma makes up just 1 per cent of cancer diagnoses in Australia.
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, 1500 people are diagnosed with the form of cancer each year.
While this year's event is not the first time Ms Geasley has tackled The Canberra Times Fun Run, it's the first time she will take on the longest distance of 10 kilometres.
Ms Geasley said preparations for the run are already under way. Not even a broken foot, injured earlier this year, can stop training.
"I broke my foot in May, so I haven't been running until last month," she said.
"But I've started training and I've been doing it three or four times a week, running around Lake Ginninderra and getting back to where I was before.
"It's great when you can use something healthy and active to support a cause like this."
While the fun run won't be the longest distance she's run, that title goes to a half marathon in Sydney earlier this year, she said she's working to get her fitness back to where it was before her foot injury.
"It's been great getting back into it and I've been getting mates to come run with me as well."
Three years following her death, Ms Geasley said every time that she dons her running shoes for a fun run, she thinks of her mother.
"She went through a lot and she was an amazing person," Ms Geasley said.
"She's very, very missed."
- The Canberra Times Fun Run will be held on November 10. To register, visit canberratimesfunrun.com.au