Colleagues and family members are honouring the memory of Canberra accountant Michael Williams on Sunday at the inaugural Callaghans Michael Williams Charity Race Day at Thoroughbred Park.
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Married at First Sight contestant and race caller Anthony Manton is championing the day.
Mr Manton said Mr Williams was his cousin but also his "oldest friend".
A partner at Belconnen accounting firm Callaghans, Mr Williams died in 2014 aged 32 due to bowel cancer. He was married to Jocelyn and they had a young daughter, Elke.
"We grew up together," Mr Manton said.
"Our grandparents lived in Gundagai so we spent a lot of our holidays and childhood there. And all of our memories were in Gundagai.
"We saw each other in holidays and at Christmas time. Even as adults, we were still close and saw each other quite a bit."
The seven-race meeting includes the opportunity for a three-course meal in the Rich Reward Room, which will be the focus of the fundraising.
Tables of 10 are available, with bookings almost full. The event runs from 12.30pm to 5.30pm. To make a booking at the charity lunch, please phone (02) 6204 0000 by close of business Thursday.
Mr Manton will be there, along with Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary and also, possibly, Canberra trainer Nick Olive who took Single Gaze to the Melbourne Cup. Some racing memorabilia will also be auctioned.
All proceeds from the day go to Bowel Cancer Australia to help its work in research and awareness about the disease.
Mr Manton said a charity golf day had been held in the past in honour of his cousin and the race day reflected another of Mr Williams' interests.
"He was a big racing fan, He loved having a bet," he said.
"His wife Jocelyn, who is still in Canberra, suggested a race day and because I call the races in Canberra, it was easy to facilitate."
Callaghans partner Justin Corkran said the firm continued to coordinate a memorial trust in Mr Williams' name to raise money for Bowel Cancer Australia. The race day was the next step.
"Michael was well-loved around the office as a practical joker and life of the party. So when Jocelyn asked if we would like to get on board as the major sponsor we jumped at the opportunity as we thought it would be a great way to get the team together outside of the office environment and have a bit of fun as well as a way to remember Michael," Mr Corkran said.
"We have had some really successful events with staff and clients over the past three years including golf days and movies nights. We are really looking forward to another successful event which raises much needed money for bowel cancer research and awareness".
Meanwhile, Mr Manton, who did not find love on Married at First Sight earlier this year, says he is concentrating on his race calling career.
"Married at First Sight was definitely an experience but if I can take something good out of it and use the time on the show to raise awareness for a good cause, then I will," he said.
