Cancer walk a personal mission for Waikiki mum

Putting one foot in front of the other is all it takes to help make a difference.

Waikiki mother Natalie Land will show how it is done when she embarks on the 60km Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk next year.

The two-day walk through Perth in April offers the community a chance to remember relatives and friends lost to breast or gynaecological cancers and a weekend to celebrate the lives saved by medical advances.

Having lost her grandmother, eight years ago, and her aunt a year ago, to breast cancer and her uncle to prostate cancer two years ago, Mrs Land said the walk was a "personal mission".

"It was the anniversary of my aunt's death on August 5," she said.

"We were very close, she is my mum's sister, but my mum lives in Walpole and has for about 20 years.

"I saw the sea of pink on Facebook and I thought if my aunty was alive she would have done it, she could have done it.

"She was my age when she got cancer the first time and I just think of all those things she could have done and didn't get to do."

Mrs Land said volunteering in the community and giving something back had been important to her for a long time.

"I like to do whatever I can; I like to be a part of the community," she said.

"When we moved down here (to Rockingham) in 1989, at first we didn't know anybody and my mother-in-law was part of the Salvation Army Church, so we got involved with them and they made me feel welcome."

Mrs Land helps out with the Australian Red Cross Red Shield Appeal and walks in the Pink Ribbon Mother's Day Walk for breast cancer.

She said she began training for the walk about five months ago and found walking to be an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

"I have always been a walker but not quite like this," Mrs Land said.

"I like to get outside in the fresh air and just listen to my music.

"I did 17km the other day, and I could have kept going, but I ran out of time."

Mrs Land said she was always happy to help out and raise money for cancer research.

"It is good to do those little extras because a lot of people won't, can't, whatever - I just like to," she said. "It gives me a lot of personal satisfaction."

Next year will be the third year the fundraising event has taken place.

Mrs Land has raised $3000 and counting.

"I was top fundraiser for a while, but now I'm second - but I'm chuffed with that," she said.

"Whether people donate or not, they are talking about it and it is out there, you have to spread the word."

All money raised goes towards the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research for cancer studies.

To donate, go to www.end cancer.org.au.