The day Auburn’s Tamara Baker found out her older sister, Kim Unland, had breast cancer is still so vivid in her mind it almost brings tears 12 years later.

“She was diagnosed when she was 32,” Baker said. “The news was devastating. It was obviously life changing for everyone, her children, her husband and everyone who loved her.”

For seven years, Baker stood by her sister’s side, supporting Unland’s fight as she went through chemotherapy, surgeries and naturopathic treatments trying to arrest the spread of cancer.

“Even though she had cancer for so long, she had gone through long stages of remission,” Baker said. “We really had hopes she was going to beat this. She was very fit and active. Very vibrant. Otherwise extremely healthy, she didn’t drink or smoke.

“But it had a mind of its own. It travelled from her breasts to her lungs and ultimately to her brain. It kind of went fast at the end. Her dying was very shocking.”

Five years ago, at the age of 39, Unland (inset photo) lost her battle with cancer.

Baker said she had walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure before her sister’s death, but the grieving process spurred her to become more involved and form the Kim’s She-Ra’s race team, named in honor of her sister’s battle.

“No matter what she was going through, chemo or surgery, she would always say, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ll be there. I’m She-Ra, I’ll be there. I know I’m having surgery, but I’ll be there, I’m She-Ra, I can do anything,’ ” Baker recalled.

On June 2, Kim’s She-Ra’s will walk in the Race for the Cure at the Seattle Center for the sixth time to raise money and awareness.

“For me, it’s really important. I’m very passionate about breast cancer prevention and awareness,” Baker said. “All my friends know that if I haven’t seen them in a while, the first thing I’m going to ask them is, ‘Have you got your mammogram lately?’

“The goal is to find a cure, so without fundraisers like this there isn’t going to be the research grant money for the scientists,” Baker said. “I think one of the great things about his event is the day of the walk. It really is inspirational. You have thousands of people, men and women of all ages, all getting together for the same goal.”

To donate to Kim’s She-Ra’s, go to pugetsound.info-komen.org/site/TR.