The youngest of those lives lost to that battle was brother-in-law Ben Quarmby. He was just 29 when he died from Merkel Cell Carcinoma in 2015.

The well-known local was making a name for himself as a professional MMA fighter when he was diagnosed and subsequently died from the disease within just nine months.

But it was her mum's more recent terminal blood cancer diagnosis which spurred Mrs Quarmby to step out from behind the scenes of the Stars of Orange organising committee and take to the dance floor for the first time.

"That's why it's so important now to keep going [with Cancer Council fundraising] because anything could happen with research while Mum's in remission - to change the outcome and bide her more time," she said.

"So I'm pretty passionate about raising money for research."

Other members of Mrs Quarmby's immediate family affected by cancer had included her father and her mother-in-law's partner - the latter of whom died from bowel cancer.

"Cancer Council have been a great support during difficult times and moving forward, their contributions to research are what give me hope for a cancer-free future," she said.

The mum-of-two and long-time Orange local said she was "extremely nervous" about participating in Stars of Orange but was eager "to do my absolute best" to raise the funds which would "kick cancer in the face".

While the June 26 gala night has already sold-out, organisers are hoping to live-stream the event.

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