"It just means a community event; everyone getting together," the 19-year-old said.

"Sharing stories; it's really good to hear other people's stories."

Ms Collins, of Kiama, was recently presented with a trophy in honour of her team being the highest fund-raisers at this year's event, which supports the Cancer Council. She received so much support that "Team Ash" had to be split into two, the teams raising in excess of $25,000 between them.

However, Ms Collins is already seeking to raise more funds in 2015.

"It was just overwhelming; everyone wanted to be on my team, so we had to have two teams," she laughed.

"We just had everyone together on the day, and it was amazing just seeing everyone turn up and support me, and support Cancer Council."

She is fighting Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer occurring most frequently in young people.

Ms Collins was a typical year 12 student at Kiama High School, focused on her upcoming HSC, when she started to feel pain in her pelvis. A cancer diagnosis soon followed.

Her life was resigned to a hospital bed as she began treatment for the tumours which eventually invaded every vertebra in her spine.

However, Ms Collins took part in the 2013 Kiama Relay for Life as a survivor, believing she had beaten the disease. The cancer then returned last September, cutting short a planned European holiday.

Treatment is ongoing, and she felt "pretty run down at the moment".

"I said to mum and dad this morning, I'd love to just go a week without chemo just so I could feel normal again ... I just need a cure, so hopefully Cancer Council can help me with that."

Mother Cathy said her daughter remained positive, despite regular hospitalisation and ongoing treatment.

Next year's relay will take place on October 24-25 at Kiama Leisure Centre.