Gold Coast local Andie Sobey is warming up to take part in this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon to help fight back against cancer and to honour loved ones lost to the disease.

Close to 30,000 runners are expected to participate across a number of races on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July while raising money for charities including the event’s official charity Cancer Council Queensland.

Andie, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, said her team was inspired to get involved to show their support for those touched by the disease.

“Our team was created in honour of a close friend who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer last year – our team members have either had a cancer diagnosis or had someone very close to them affected by the disease,” Andie said.

“Being part of the event is a huge positive factor in my own battle with cancer, and knowing first-hand the wonderful work Cancer Council Queensland does only cemented our team’s desire to enter.”

Despite undergoing radiotherapy and a fifth surgery in the lead up to the event, Andie refuses to let it stop her doing what she set out to do – participate in the marathon and raise funds to support research in the hope of a cancer free future.

”My goal is the Southern Cross University 10km Run – our team, Paul’s Rainbows, will walk or run various distances. We inspire each other to push on, do what we love and not be defined by cancer,” Andie said.

Cancer Council Queensland’s ‘I Can Get Active for Cancer’ campaign encourages Queenslanders to do something active to raise funds for the fight against cancer.

Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift said the Gold Coast Airport Marathon provided the perfect opportunity to launch ‘I Can Get Active for Cancer’ in 2014.

“It’s not what you’ve got – it’s what you can do that makes a difference,” Ms Clift said.

“Pledge ‘I Can Get Active for Cancer’, lace up your runners and head along to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to raise awareness of cancer while showing other community members that we can stand up and beat this disease.

“About 61,000 Australian lives have been saved by improvements in cancer prevention, screening and treatment over the past 20 years – we need your help in 2014 to change even more lives for the better.”

This year, Cancer Council Queensland hopes more than 1500 community-minded individuals will pledge I Can for Cancer and raise $2 million to support more than 24,000 Queenslanders diagnosed with cancer each year.

Queenslanders can make a difference by registering for ‘I Can Get Active’ online at icanforcancer.org.au and signing up for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon by selecting Cancer Council Queensland as charity of choice at goldcoastmarathon.com.au. Entries close Friday 4 July at 8pm.

To support Andie Sobey and ‘Paul’s Rainbows’ visit their Everyday Hero page.

For more information about Cancer Council Queensland visit cancerqld.org.au or call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20.

Cancer Council Queensland is an independent community-based charity, the achievements of which are made possible by the generosity of Queenslanders.