But since she became an ambassador for the Melanoma Institute Australia 18 months ago, the swimmer has been cautioning youth to stay sun safe.

The 25-year-old from Brisbane led the way at Wollongong’s inaugural 3.6 kilometre Melanoma Walk on Sunday.

She joined more than 250 participants at Stuart Park to raise funds and awareness about sun safety and melanoma prevention.

Melanoma was the most common cancer for 15 to 39-year-olds, she said.

‘‘We need vitamin D from the sun, but it’s important to have a balance,’’ she said.

‘‘Things like not going out when the sun is blazing hot, wearing sunscreen, keeping hydrated ... are important.

‘‘People just don’t instil the message in themselves.’’

The swimmer met Helensburgh’s Andrew Rust during the walk and was inspired by his story.

Mr Rust, now 40-years-old, was 28 when he was diagnosed with melanoma cancer.

He had 32 lymph nodes removed from his left hip and leg, leaving his body unable to circulate disease fighting fluids.

‘‘It was a very confronting time,’’ he said.

‘‘My daughter was almost two-years-old and my beautiful wife was just fantastic with her support.’’

The graphic designer said he ran around without a shirt as a teenager and swiped two strokes of zinc instead of applying sunscreen.

Now, he wakes up everyday at 5am to treat his swollen left leg with a massage and circulation booster.

Mr Rust plans to walk 450 kilometres in July to raise $150,000 for the Melanoma Institute.

Melanoma Institute community coordinator Jay Allen said the fundraiser was more successful than he had hoped.

‘‘I’m not going to stop until we get a cure,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve lost too many friends to melanoma – 13 friends in six years.’’

The 38-year-old was diagnosed with stage three melanoma four years ago.

He has bounced back and is now fighting for funds to find a cure.