WHEN Georgia Ross realised the Queanbeyan Relay for Life was held the weekend of her 13th birthday, she couldn't think of a better place to hold her party.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I was down at the shops and I saw on the noticeboard that the Relay for Life was held on the February 16, the day after my birthday," Georgia said.
"I thought I could invite my friends for my birthday. I thought it was a fun idea but it's more than just my birthday, it's something to help people and a good cause."
And what did her friends think about the idea of doing a 24-hour walking relay and camping out under the stars?
"I think they might be a bit jealous they didn't think of the idea themselves," the year eight student said cheekily. "And as you can see they're very supportive of the idea."
Georgia's friends jokingly jeer in the background but sure enough they're dressed up in different Disney characters as per the birthday girl's dress code instructions.
"I thought it would add to the fun to dress up," she said. "I choose to go as Belle from Beauty and Beast because she's a good role model, she doesn't just judge people on the way they look."
Georgia is sure to be the belle of Seiffert Oval in a canary yellow gown accessorised with a bejewelled tiara.
"I ordered my costume online, it was very hard to find one that fit and one that looked good," she said.
While Georgia's birthday is actually the day before, there will be plenty of festive touches during the Relay including cupcakes with purple icing and yellow sprinkles - "the Relay for Life colours" and party bags.
This is the Merici College student's very first Relay for Life.
"I'm looking forward to walking around the oval and doing the activities," she said.
"We'll have some food, the music going and just hopefully have a good day."
But it's not all fun and games, there's the fundraising aspect as well.
Luckily, the Disney Princesses team consists of Georgia's supportive family and friends including Kay Parsons, the team's chief fundraiser who collected more than $1000 worth of donations.
"When Georgia told me I was part of her team, I went and got sponsorship. I work in emergency services so that's the firies, ambos, RFS and SES," she said. "I held an egg and bacon roll breakfast and asked people to donate what they could, it all adds up."
Mrs Parsons is looking forward to the Candlelight Ceremony of Hope as it will give her and the family a chance to commemorate her sister (Georgia's grandmother) who passed away from breast cancer at 34-years-old.
"I have fundraised for cancer charities," Mrs Parsons said. "The Cancer Council helps everyone, it's not just for one specific cancer. They help the cancer patients and their family too."
"A lot of my friends also have grandparents who have also passed away from cancer," Georgia said. "These days everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer, it's not such a rare thing these days sadly."