That's why Sarah McGoram and her 'no gutsy, no glory' teammates will be smiling regardless of how long it takes them to finish The Canberra Times Fun Run on Sunday.

McGoram was diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumours when she was 18 and given 12 months to live. Twenty-two years later she will compete in the fun run for the first time in between regular 12-week check-ups to see how her body is coping.

The fact her running mate Jen Ticehurst has been fighting her own cancer battle for the past 12 months adds extra motivation to the event.

"Initially I felt helpless and powerless because we couldn't do anything about it. But I guess I was just a stubborn 18-year-old and dug my heels in," McGoram said.

"I just wanted to get on with it and live as full of a life as I can. I've been punching through with that mindset ever since. We pretend it doesn't exist until we have to face it again.

"Fitness is such a big thing. I'm not an outstanding runner ... more of a casual jogger. Jen is the most phenomenal athlete, a marathon runner.

"But for us it's more about fitness. I was told about the emerging research about the links between regular physical activity and patient outcomes."

More than 24,600 Australians are diagnosed with digestive cancer ever year. McGoram's battle is ongoing. She's been on full-time targeted drug therapies for the past eight years. She's had 50 blood transfusions and spent six months in hospital in 2010.

Her body functions with half a liver and half of her pancreas, and she once lost 50 per cent of her blood after an internal haemorrhage.

McGoram hopes to raise awareness and money for digestive cancer research after beating the odds for so long.

Her running group will be joined by almost 30 family and friends as they tackle the five kilometre event.

"In order to help Jen through her treatment, we all decided we'd sign up for a ‘Gutsy Challenge’ to compete in at the end of it. It has given her something to ‘train for’ to get through the hard times," McGoram said.

"Originally we were looking at the 10 kilometre race, but the doctors suggested we ease back and do the best we can at five kilometres. It's my first run ... I don't care what my time is, I'm just happy I'm not in hospital."