JOSEPHINE Petrak, of Oatley, was one of 3000 people in Sydney who were diagnosed with cancer last year.
She will be hosting a Biggest Morning high tea at 11am on Tuesday, May 5, at Mortdale RSL to raise vital funds for the Cancer Council.
Ms Petrak, 63, used Cancer Council support and information services after her diagnosis with breast cancer in September.
Over the past 20 years, funds raised through Biggest Morning Tea and Relay For Life have helped saved the lives of 61,000 Australians through improvements in cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
Ms Petrak has just completed radiation and chemotherapy at St George Hospital and plans to have reconstructive surgery.
"One day I go in to have a check and two hours later I'm told I have cancer," she said.
"I'm still feeling the after-effects of everything. It's going to take a while to heal."
The mother-of-two used the Cancer Council's online counselling service and was supported by a cancer care nurse and Cancer Connect volunteer.
"The [Cancer Connect] volunteer lady had gone through exactly the same cancer, treatments and the reconstructive surgery I am going to have in September," she said.
"She was ringing me after each chemo treatment and we would have a long chat and have bit of laugh and talk about our wigs."
A ticket to the May 5 high tea is $50 and that includes lucky door prizes and entertainment.
Ms Petrak's close friend Chantal Murr, of Oatley, is helping organise the high tea.
Mrs Murr said Ms Petrak was "a very giving person who wants nothing in return".
"We love her," she said.
Thursday, May 28 is the official date of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea; it aims to raise $4.8 million in NSW this year. Tickets to May 5 high tea: josephine@petrak.id.au details/registrations: biggestmorningtea.com.au, 1300 656 585
Cancer Council free information and support service: 13 11 20.
