Kylie Lister

Still Standing

Every year, the Seven Bridges Walk is so much more than just a 28-kilometre challenge for me. It is a reminder of how fortunate I am to still be here, and an opportunity to give something back by raising money for cancer research.

This year will be my fifth Seven Bridges Walk. I completed my first walk in 2015, followed by 2017, 2023 and 2024. I was incredibly disappointed to miss last year's event due to a serious lower back injury, which makes returning this year even more meaningful.

Over the years, I have had three cancerous melanomas removed. They may have left me with a few ugly scars, but I wear those scars as a reminder of how lucky I am. They are proof that early detection saves lives. What matters isn't how the scars look—it's that I am still here today.

Having had melanoma three times, skin cancer awareness has become a way of life. Regular skin checks are non-negotiable, and sometimes it feels like I'm playing a never-ending game of "whack-a-mole," finding and removing suspicious spots before they have the chance to become something much more serious. Every day I make a conscious effort to protect myself from the sun by covering up, wearing a hat, applying sunscreen, and following the simple but lifesaving message we all know so well—Slip, Slop, Slap.

Last year brought another battle.

Following a debilitating lower back injury, my life changed almost overnight. I couldn't stand for more than four minutes without being in excruciating pain. Sitting was just as unbearable, and I couldn't even dress myself. The simplest everyday tasks became overwhelming, and there were days when I genuinely wondered if I would ever get my life back.

But I refused to let my injury define me.

Instead, I made a commitment to reclaim my health.

Through clean eating, countless evenings at the gym, early Saturday morning Parkruns, and Sunday hikes, I slowly rebuilt my strength, my confidence and my life. One small step became another, and before I knew it those small changes had become a completely new lifestyle.

Along the way, I have lost an incredible 50 kilograms.

Today I am lighter, fitter, stronger and healthier than I have been in years. Most importantly, I am no longer living with the crippling back pain that once controlled every aspect of my life.

To go from struggling to stand or sit for more than a few minutes, and not even being able to dress myself, to now training for a 28-kilometre walk is something I never take for granted.

While I have been fortunate, cancer continues to touch the lives of those closest to me. My uncle is currently living with terminal bowel cancer, and every single day we get to spend with him is a blessing. Watching someone you love face that battle is heartbreaking, and it reminds me why events like the Seven Bridges Walk matter so much. They give us hope that through research, future families may have a different outcome.

This year is my year of regaining my health.

My first milestone is completing the City2Surf in August. Not long afterwards, I'll be lining up for the Seven Bridges Walk in October. They're more than fitness events to me—they're milestones that represent just how far I've come.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering love and support of Mark. He stood beside me through my darkest days, believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself, and has celebrated every milestone with me along the way.

Every kilometre I walk is for those who are fighting cancer, for those we have lost, for my uncle, and for everyone whose life has been touched by this disease. Every dollar raised helps fund research that leads to earlier detection, better treatments and, ultimately, more lives saved.

If you're able to support me with a donation, no matter how big or small, I would be incredibly grateful. Together, we can help create a future where more people survive cancer and more families get to spend precious time with the people they love.

Thank you for supporting me on this journey. I'll be proudly walking every one of those 28 kilometres with gratitude, determination, and hope.

I’m walking for a cancer free future

I’m taking on 7 Bridges Walk on Sunday 25 October 2026 and will be uniting with the community to walk 28km around Sydney Harbour. 

Every year in NSW alone, more than 56,000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed and the impact on families, carers and communities is significant. 

Please sponsor me and help those affected by cancer. Every step counts because all funds raised will help Cancer Council NSW work towards the vision of a cancer free future. Thank you for your support!