Friends indeed: Cindy Bergum and her horse Taz. Picture: Rob Carew
CINDY Burgum doesn't consider cancer a curse - even though the Mt Evelyn mother-of-one has been challenged by Hodgkin's Lymphoma twice.
"It's brought such a richness to my life and my relationships," she says. "It has made me want to do so much more with my life."
To raise money for the Cancer Council, the avid horserider has decided to take part in the 2012 Horse Ride for Cancer.
The ride will begin in Mildura on August 12 and trek all the way to Queensland. Ms Burgum says it will take riders 76 days to finish the 2545-kilometre ride.
They hope to raise $1million that will go directly to the Cancer Council to fund research and patient care.
Ms Burgum's personal goal is to raise $50,000. "The services I received from the Cancer Council during my illness were just amazing.
"I don't know how I would have got through the ordeal without their support and the support of my family."
For the 29-year-old, being diagnosed with cancer once was terrifying enough, but when it returned 18 months later - more aggressive than the first time - Ms Burgum initially struggled to remain upbeat.
After undergoing six courses of intensive chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and abundance of natural therapies, Ms Burgum was deemed to be in remission again.
"It's very difficult because I know a lot of people haven't been as lucky as me. I'm just one of the lucky ones who got through it. With cancer you just have to keep fighting and know if you overcome it there is potentially a new life waiting for you on the other side of it all."
Sister Stephanie describes her as an inspiration. "She's such a positive person. She is the most amazing mother and sister. Even during the bad times she always had a smile on her face."
Ms Burgum is hoping to find more sponsors and followers to her dedicated Horse Ride for Cancer twitter account @cindyHrfc.
To donate, become a sponsor or find out more, visit horserideforcancer.com.au/donations.html.