As a radiation therapist and lecturer, Danni Milinkovic knew exactly what the lump on her breast meant.

“She understood how serious it was,” says Kate Robertson, Danni’s sister.

“Even though the lump was quite small, it was already stage four and quite an aggressive form of cancer.”

In the face of the disease, Danni managed to keep working in some capacity in the years following, while at the same time receiving treatment – and beating the odds.

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“She fought so hard for so long,” says Kate admiringly. “She probably surprised the doctors a bit. They didn’t think she’d survive five years.”

Danni was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and died in 2013, leaving behind a husband and young daughter.

She had been in the middle of a PhD focussing on patients with breast cancer – partly inspired by her own illness – when she passed away, but Kate says a number of colleagues have managed to continue Danni’s work after her death.

Certainly more distressing than leaving her life’s work behind was leaving her daughter Anicka, who was just seven when Danni passed away.

“Anicka is 10 now,” says Kate, “and it’s a credit to both her dad and Danni that she’s doing so well.”

Since Danni’s diagnosis, her family, friends and extended community have been taking part in the Mother’s Day Classic in her honour.

The team is called Danni’s Dynamos, and over the years its raised thousands of dollars for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. As a result, Kate is now a Mother’s Day Classic ambassador.

Kate says the group size varies but has swelled to 94 people over the years, earning them the title of biggest family and friends group at Parramatta Park.

Anicka eagerly fills her unofficial role as team captain by making and selling breast cancer bracelets.

She even accepted the trophy on behalf of the Dynamos and bravely made a speech in front of the crowd at last year’s event.

Kate says Anicka is understanding her mother’s death more and more as she gets older. “She does have times when it hits her hard,” she says.

The nationwide fun run and walk is clearly a valuable opportunity for Danni’s circle of friends and family to get together and remember her. 

“Danni inspired many,” says Kate.

“Often you wouldn’t know how ill she was because she continued to live and love life.”

It’s not too late to take place in this year’s event. Register or donate at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au.

The New Daily is a media partner of the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, which takes place in 100 locations around Australia on Sunday May 8, raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund breast cancer research.