Waihi's Walking for Domination 2019 Relay for Life team. Photo supplied.
Young Millie Green turned nine on Saturday, but she didn't have the usual nine-year-old girl's birthday party.
She was busy walking for domination.
Millie, with mum Emma, took part in the Relay for Life fundraising for cancer walk at Pukekohe Showgrounds at the weekend.
The Greens went with a group of Waihi locals who called themselves the ''Walking for Domination 2019'' team and dressed in neon to stand out.
This year's overnight fundraising walk/run for cancer was the second for the group.
''This is one way we can support others. This year our children have said they want to be part of it,'' Emma says.
Relay for Life is held throughout the country for people to remember their loved ones and to celebrate survivors.
Emma says they do it to show their support for people they know who have been affected by cancer and ''to show our children we need to give back,'' she says.
Cancer has hit home hard for Emma and her family.
Emma's mother has been a breast cancer survivor for 33 years. She was fundraising herself and a mammogram was offered to her. Out of 15 women — the United Kingdom statistic at the time — Emma's mother was the one diagnosed with breast cancer.
Emma's ''Kiwi mum'' also underwent breast cancer treatment. Both women are survivors. Emma is grateful to modern medicine for keeping her loved ones safe. Emma is a health care assistant as well as an oncology rural massage therapist.
Millie has also shown her support for cancer before by having her long ponytail chopped off to donate for wig making.
The neon crew, sponsored by Waihi Family Doctors, took turns walking and running from Saturday 4pm through the night to raise money and awareness for cancer. Emma believes they were the only Waihi team.
At Relay for Life, teams must have one person running or walking the track at all times.
The widely popular event, often involving dress-ups, is known as a fun family event where all ages take part.
This year teams were asked to decorate a candle bag in memory of victims from the Christchurch shootings.
Two big business donations capped off the six-week fundraising drive.