The Gunnedah woman and her friends and family are preparing for the fundraising event which will be held on her property, “Fairview” on Loss Road.

Entertainment will be provided by Steve Wilson, with a cash bar and finger food. An auction will see a Shirley Urquhart painting, pink ladies’ work boots, and five nights’ accommodation at the Gold Coast go under the hammer, with Bert Hewitt lending his vocals to the task.

Michelle has been hosting fundraising events for six years, and said the upcoming event would be her last hooray.

“We sort of thought it’d be nice to do something a bit different and have a bit of a party and celebrate,” she said.

Michelle’s brush with cancer saw her life turned upside-down in a matter of months following a positive diagnosis of Grade 3 breast cancer in November 2006. 

Following a routine mammogram in 2006, Michelle received a callback and underwent further testing. Doctor Frank Sardelic did nine biopsies and within two days, he rang to tell her the results

“As soon as he spoke, he said, ‘Can you talk?’, and I knew… He said to me, ‘All nine have it in it. The whole nine samples have cancer’, and the first thing I remember saying to him is, ‘But I’m going away on holidays tomorrow’,” Michelle said.

“You just don’t expect it, and there’d been none in the family that we knew of at all.”

Within two months, Michelle had undergone a mastectomy to stop the spread of the aggressive cancer. A year later, she received an implant to replace the breast that was removed.

“I was really lucky – it was still in all the ducts,” she said.

Michelle said Dr Sardelic went out of his way to check up on her, even when he was on holidays with his family.

“I think he’s an amazing man,” she said.

The cancer survivor said it was important to contribute to cancer research so future generations, including her granddaughter, would have a better chance of survival if they developed the disease.

“We need to stop it. We need better treatments so [cancer patients] can live longer,” she said.

Over the past five years, $8000 has been raised, with hopes to raise $2000 this year to make it an even $10,000.

“I’m not in this for the recognition,” Michelle said.

“It’s just been a passion of mine.”

Tickets for A Night Against Breast Cancer are $50, and can be purchased through Tony King at Gordon Barry and Co, and Belinda Dawson at Brown’s Tyre Service until October 5. with funds to go to the Breast Cancer Institute of Australia. Hawkins will be running a free bus service, with interest to be indicated when purchasing a ticket.

For more information, contact Michelle King on 0428 432 501.