Judy Emberson is bringing together a community of Wagga families affected by ovarian cancer, less than three months after the death of her sister.
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In recognition of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Ms Emberson is hosting a morning tea at the RJ Hall Room on Sunday, which promises to be the first in a long list of efforts to raise the profile of the disease both locally and nationwide.
Ms Emberson's sister Jill, a Newcastle journalist, became a high-profile advocate for ovarian cancer awareness and funding following her own diagnosis.
Ms Emberson said Jill was a driving force in several national improvements to ovarian cancer funding and treatment, including a $20 million federal government funding commitment in April 2019.
"She chose to go public at great expense to the time that she had," Ms Emberson said.
"Her sacrifice was horrendous."
Jill Emberson died on December 12, aged 61.
Ms Emberson said there was a lot of ground to cover with both diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer, for which there is no screening test.
She said patients too often "go backwards and forwards to their GP" with symptoms including constipation, diarrhoea and weight loss and by the time they receive their diagnosis, it is too late.
With just a 45 per cent survival rate, Ms Emberson said the painful effects of treatment were incredibly difficult to watch.
"Nobody is the same after, no family or people are the same after seeing a loved one go through this," she said.
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Ms Emberson said she was amazed at the response she had received from the Wagga community just weeks after beginning to plan the event, with the Wagga RSL and Commercial Club offering the venue free of charge.
The morning tea, beginning at 10.30, will raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Australia over tea and scones, with donated prizes to be won.
Ms Emberson said everyone she had invited had jumped at the chance to be involved.
"There is a big affinity between people and families that have endured this horrendous end-of-life trauma," she said.
She said through fundraising and lobbying, she hoped to reduce the stigma around ovarian cancer which she said prevented people from taking the steps to recognise the cancer early, and help secure more permanent funding to advance prevention and treatment of the disease.
