Why you’ll see Alison at the Adelaide Hills Relay

Adelaide local, Alison Warner is an inspirational force with a passion for making a difference, even in the face of cancer. She began stepping out with the Adelaide Hills Relay For Life in 2008 with the team ‘The Desperate Housewives’ who have, to date, attended events across the state, raising an incredible $195,000 to support South Australians impacted by cancer.

Following a routine breast screen in 2014, Alison’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Doctors found a tiny dot. With further investigation, it turned out to be an invasive tumour,” she explains.

“When I went home and told my kids, my 10-year-old son asked me ‘are you going to die?’ and I said, ‘not on my watch’.”

Alison had a double mastectomy to remove the tumor and is so thankful for the routine screening that detected the cancer early. For Alison, the early detection of her cancer meant she needed no other treatments.

Just a month after her surgery, Alison stepped out with her local Relay For Life event, putting one foot in front of the other, not only for herself, but for all the people in her life, all the South Australians, who have been impacted by cancer—including her mum and sister who were also diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50.

Every dollar Alison and her team have raised has helped fund Cancer Council SA’s essential prevention, research, advocacy and support programs and services. Services that make a difference, as Alison knows all too well.

As well as being thankful for screening and early detection, Alison has also turned to Cancer Council 13 11 20 following her surgery for cancer information and support.

“I felt like I’d had this loss and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” Alison explains.

“They just talked, listened and were comforting and caring. All I really needed at that time was for someone to tell me it was okay to be feeling like that.”

Today, Alison and ‘The Desperate Housewives’ are as passionate as ever about stepping out on the Relay track to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer.

If you would like to join Alison at the upcoming Adelaide Hills Relay For Life event on 5-6 November 2022, click here. By joining Relay For Life you will help fund life-saving cancer research, prevention programs and support services for people like Alison.