The now 29-year-old had her first seizure at six weeks-of-age but it wasn’t until 10 months later when she had a grand mal that doctors found she had a brain tumour.

Her mother Trish, who is now also battling her own cancer, said she had a neuroblastoma on the right side of her brain.

“These types of tumours are very uncommon and mainly occur in the stomach,” Trish said.

“Doctors believe a piece of tissue dislodged off something and lodged onto her brain.

“She was a bit unwell, continually crying all the time but wasn’t too bad until she had the grand mal.

“I remember it so well as it was [her elder sister] Brooke’s birthday in six days time and we were going to go shopping to get her present.

“Both girls were up and then Erica collapsed in the doorway.  I grabbed her and took her up to the hospital and she was sent to the Mater.

“We got as far as Sandgate in the ambulance when she stopped breathing. But she was revived and then placed on life support in hospital.

“They told us there was no hope and it was time to turn off the life support.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.  They switched it off and then less than a minute later she opened her eyes and said ‘mummy’.

“I knew then she was a fighter.”

Erica had surgery at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney when she was just over two years old and had six months of radiotherapy.

“She was the youngest person in Australia ever to have radiation,” Trish said.

“They were liaising with surgeons in America all the time so they knew they had the right dosage.

“But the tumour regrew and they found the second one she was five years and three days old.

“They said she wouldn’t see her sixth birthday.

“Now they are 99 per cent sure it won’t come back in the same spot and she has been cancer-free for 25 years.”

The tumour affected Erica’s learning ability but it didn’t stop her from completing her year 12 at Dungog High School.

Former teacher and now Relay for Life secretary Lyn Moseley said she enjoyed everything she did at school.

“She particularly loved cooking and still loves it,” she said.

“Now she is helping her mum around the house and loves cooking sponges, biscuits and cakes and can make a great spaghetti bolognaise.

“Since Trish has been sick she has really stepped up to the mark.”

But Erica, who was thrilled to be asked to be the face of the March 29-30 relay, lives life to the fullest.

“I love cooking and doing craft and Find-a-Word puzzles,” she said.

“And I sometimes work down at [Dungog] Vinnies too.

“And my favourite colour is purple so I love wearing the relay shirts because they are purple as well.”

Mum Trish said people have to get it in their head there is life after cancer.

“I look at her and it gives me hope,” she said.

“She is always saying to me ‘if I can do it, then so can you’.

“She is on 22 different medications a day and has a bone density test every second year.

“It’s affected her growth and development both physically and mentally but she does her best to lead a normal as possible life.”

This will be the 14th year Erica will be walking in the relay event and older sister Brooke, who lives in New Zealand, walks at their event over there.

Erica’s story will be celebrated prior to the candlelighting ceremony around dusk on the Saturday night of the relay.

A tribute of her journey will be shown and the community is welcome to come and join Erica and Trish during the relay and especially at the candle lighting ceremony.