On Sunday, she was one of the many who completed the 2018 Classic’s Bendigo fun runs or walk to raise awareness for breast cancer research.

Lauren urged people to check their breasts and know their body, saying if they believed something was not right they needed to have it checked out.

Lauren said it was not always obvious. she had only been able to feel a lump on her breast when she was lying down.

She said early detection saved lives.

“I went and saw a surgeon in Melbourne and had three different operations, then had to start six months of chemotherapy at Bendigo Health,” Lauren said.

“I completed that in January and then had radiation, which I completed in March.”

Lauren said everything was going well. While she was undergoing treatment and remained on medication she was back at work and everything was getting back to normal.

She ran the Classic’s 4km fun run on Sunday with her sisters, her husband and her children.

“They supported me through and it was quite emotional at the finish line,” Lauren said.

Meanwhile, Team Jan was walking to support a cousin going through her own breast cancer journey.

Like many of those taking part in the event, team members Alan Gray and Harrison Darcy had dressed in pink to show their support for family.

“It’s pretty important to raise money for the cause,” Harrison said.

“I’m dressed in pink socks, a pink tutu, pink shorts, a pink hat and a pink wig. Oh, and pink a T-shirt,” he said.

Organising committee member Gaye Harrington said the event started in Melbourne started 20 years ago.

The Bendigo Classic had been running for about 10 years.

“It’s been a fantastic turnout today. The event is always incredibly well-supported,” she said.

“We get a great mix of people. We get some who come simply because they want to participate in the run.

“Then we get a lot of groups, as you can see today, who have got family members who have been directly affected by breast cancer.

“They turn up to support their loved ones, which is a really lovely thing.”