By Ashley Macrae

Coombabah mother Rachel Barnes and sons Riley and Hayden will be dedicating their Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge to husband and father Shane and Cancer Council Queensland.

Shane has been fighting a rare form of cancer called neuroendocrine for the past four years and is undergoing a new treatment called lutate therapy at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

With his fundraising drive via Everyday Hero, the Barnes family is on the road to achieving its $4000 target for Cancer Council Queensland which has been the official charity of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for 11 consecutive years.

Cancer Council Queensland is committed to providing all Queenslanders with the best possible prospects of preventing, detecting, effectively treating and surviving a cancer diagnosis.

The Barnes family hopes the raised funds will help increase awareness about neuroendocrine cancer.

“As it’s a rare form of cancer, many people wouldn’t have even heard about it and we feel it’s important to generate awareness,” Rachel said.

The Cancer Council Queensland has been a huge support to Shane and the Barnes family, helping with accommodation expenses whilst Shane underwent treatment in Brisbane.

“I have been receiving counselling and support from Cancer Council Queensland directly, they have been such an amazing support network,” Rachel said.

Brothers Riley, 10, and Hayden, 8, will be running alongside mum in the Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge as a tribute to their dad.

“By running in the 5.7km they are doing something that will not only help to raise vital funds for Cancer Council Queensland but it will also help to create awareness about neuroendocrine cancer.”

Shane and younger son Jake will be cheering at the finish line as the family takes on their personal challenge.

To support their fundraising efforts, visit everydayhero.com.

Gold Coast Airport Marathon entries close Friday 1 July 2016 (8pm QLD).