'Struggle every day': Lisa Curry breaks down on live TV as she remembers her daughter Jaimi

Lisa Curry lost her daughter five years ago. The grief remains heavy.

Speaking on the Today Show, the triple Olympian broke down in tears as she remembered her daughter Jaimi Kenny, who died at the age of 33 after battling eating disorders for 18 years.

Joining Karl Stefanovic and Jayne Azzopardi live from the Sunshine Coast, Curry held a tissue in her hand and became immediately emotional as Azzopardi asked, "How are you?"

Watch the video above.

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"Um I'm OK until someone asks, 'How am I'. I'm OK," she began as her voice cracked with emotion.

Curry began to tear up and paused for a moment to collect herself before continuing.

"Most of the time I'm OK. You know, yesterday I had a meltdown in the shop. So you see a strong, happy face most of the time but inside, like most parents, I just struggle every single day," she said as she continued to fight back tears.

"Sorry, I was really hoping this didn't happen," she continued as she fanned the tears from her face.

"I'm OK. Yeah, I'm doing OK, we're all doing OK. We get through it day by day, and ... it's just a horrible position to be in."

Curry farewelled her daughter five years ago. It broke her heart.

"It feels like your heart's been ripped out," she recently told 9News.

"She just sort of took a breath and then her hands went cold, that was it."

Her daughter's death came after a long battle with eating disorders and a lack of answers made things really difficult for Jaimi and the family.

"She'd say, 'Where did it come from? Why am I like this?" Curry told 9News.

Now a major genetic study led by Queensland researchers is hoping to push towards more clarity on the devastating illnesses.

Saliva samples will be brought to a DNA facility at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer, where the samples are put into machines to identify genetic markers.

READ MORE: Triple Olympian Lisa Curry's mission five years after daughter's death

The study hopes to identify the genetic risk associated with developing an eating disorder and improve treatment options.

But the study needs participants and Curry is leading the call for more than 4000 Australian volunteers or up to 100,000 worldwide to take part in a landmark genetic study.

"When they asked me to be a part of this study and to talk about it to, you know, the end result is to help people with treatment and save lives, hopefully," she said in conversation with Stefanovic and Azzopardi.

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"When they asked me I thought, 'Wow, this is amazing and I have to get involved."

Visit the study's website to check your eligibility or find out more information.

Participants from all cultural backgrounds are needed and the samples can be sent in by post.

Support is available from the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673.

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