Corowa woman Kay Blakeley knows just how aggressive breast cancer can be.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It’s been a decade since the disease had fatal consequences for her best friend.
But from that tragedy rose determination.
Her will to honour her friend and help other sufferers has led Ms Blakeley to raise close to $50,000 for the McGrath Foundation in eight years.
With the help of her line dancing group, she has raised about $14,000 this year.
Ms Blakeley helps organise several fundraising events during the year and says it’s all for a good cause.
“It is something I want to continue to do for my best friend,” she said.
“She had a huge impact on me and has certainly motivated me quite a bit.
“There is just so much breast cancer around.
“We’ve had a couple of line dancers who have had it, so it sticks with us all the time.
“The River Country Boot Scooters get behind me and help me fundraise, I couldn’t do it without them.”
The money helps fund McGrath Lambert breast care nurses who provide physical and emotional support for cancer sufferers and their families.
Throughout the year, Ms Blakeley held a pink social, pink quilt raffle and spent hours making snacks and relishes for afternoon teas.
Her biggest fundraiser was a high tea held at Corowa RSL which raised $7000.
She said the allocation of nurses to regional areas plays a big role in why she donates to the McGrath Foundation.
“I’ve heard about how good the McGrath nurses are, so it makes it all worth it,” she said.
“Most people I come across have been affected by breast cancer in some way.”
It costs about $380,000 for a McGrath breast care nurse full time for three years and Ms Blakeley’s efforts to fund them have not gone unnoticed.
McGrath Foundation chief executive Petra Buchanan said Ms Blakeley had shown “unwavering” support to the people in her community.
“Kay’s magnificent efforts over the past nine years show just how much impact one person, the support of their local community and a touch of pink can make to the McGrath Foundation in helping us fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses,” she said.
“Above all they have shown that together we truly can make a difference to families in Australia experiencing breast cancer.”
The McGrath Foundation currently funds 105 of 279 breast care nurses in Australia and two of those are based at Gateway Health in Wodonga.
This year 15,600 women and 145 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia.
Ms Buchanan said there is currently a shortfall of 79 breast care nurses nationally.