She was devastated when her friend Jenny Baker, of Corryong, died of breast cancer a decade ago.

Over the past 10 years Ms Blakeley has organised McGrath Foundation fundraising high teas to give back to the organisation which supported her friend.

The initiative started with a small gathering which raised a few hundred dollars, but 10 years on and the Corowa RSL on Sunday was coated in pink with more than a hundred people in pink wigs, dresses and hair spray joining together to support the cause.

“She was so happy with the breast cancer nurse,” Ms Blakeley said.

“Everyone you speak to say how amazing they are treated by the organisation.

“They put nurses into the country and it means if you feel bad you don’t know to travel.

“We started raising $900, and then last year it was up to $14,950.”

McGrath Foundation director Tracy Bevan, who attended Sunday’s tea, said fundraising work such as Ms Blakeley’s allowed it to continue to employ specialist breast cancer nurses for the 49 women a day and 150 men a year diagnosed with the disease. 

“Kay’s done so much over the years, we’re enormously grateful for the $70,000 she’s helped raise,” she said.

“I asked to come to Corowa because I think it’s important to travel and say thank you because without Kay and supporters we can’t do what we do and we can’t get nurses into areas.”

Ms Bevan said although the region already had a nurse, the organisation was working to ensure everyone was aware of the service.

“Albury-Wodonga has their own nurse and we want to make sure the community know of the nurse, that it’s free and that you can self-refer you don’t need a oncologist referral,” she said.

Ms Bevan said that 117 McGrath nurses were employed Australia-wide mostly in regional areas and 54,000 families had been supported by the initiative. 

“Fundraising events mean for us we can continue to fund the local nurse and help fund new nurses for communities who don’t currently have access,” she said.