Youth will be served at this year's Relay For Life.

Lauren Lambkin, 17, has been chosen as the honourary chairperson for the annual fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, which takes place June 4 at the Riverbank Discovery Centre.

Lambkin, a Brandon product, is unlike anyone in her position before her because of her age but committee chair Kyla Henderson says she represented what the committee was looking for this year.

“She's a public face and this is her biggest fight, so she wants to tell her story and she wants to get other people on board,” said Henderson. “You'd never know that she was in Grade 11 at Neelin High School. She's a wonderful ambassador for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Relay For Life.

“Lauren (Lambkin) for us represents a lot of things and I think it's great to have her youth and such a fresh face representing the relay.”

Although Lambkin has never been diagnosed with the disease, she felt the effects when her mother was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in 2006. For more than three years, Lambkin helped her mother Lois battle the disease until May 8, 2009 when Lois sadly passed away. Lambkin is by far the youngest honourary chairperson the Relay has ever had, and at such a young age, has been one of the most dedicated volunteers for the local Canadian Cancer Society office.

“I was personally concerned about her age in the fact that she is so young and she just lost her mother,” said Henderson. “But the great thing about Lauren is that she keeps on going and that she realizes that there is still a fight and that she hates cancer. She's going to continue fighting it.”

Since the news broke of her mother being diagnosed in '06, Lambkin has been a driving force in the community, volunteering her time for numerous Canadian Cancer Society campaign efforts, including 'Daffodil Days'.

“I'm really proud and really happy to be doing something like this,” said Lambkin. “It's a big honour for me.

“I still feel that by telling my story and by spreading awareness, I can hopefully make a difference.”

At the age of 14, Lambkin entered her first team in the Relay. The following year, she entered two teams. At 16, she organized her own cancer fundraiser, called Together 4 Hope in Shilo.

“I think it's really important for people to realize that yes, I have been through a tragedy but you can get through it and things do get better,” said Lambkin.

“Working with the Cancer Society and doing what I do, that's what helps me get through all of this.”

Asked if her proud mother will be looking down at her the day of the event, Lambkin replied, “I think so.”