Many people would crumble physically and mentally under the weight of that diagnosis, and with the treatment of surgeries and chemotherapy. But not Sara.

Although she is no longer able to work (she is an early childhood educator), has had multiple surgeries, and is currently undergoing a rigorous chemotherapy regime, she has thrown herself wholeheartedly into a big project to raise funds for Manning Valley Can Assist, a non-profit organisation that provides much needed financial support to families and people with cancer locally.

"I had a Look Good Feel Good Workshop, and I got my cousin to take photos afterwards, to capture all that beauty and feel good! And then I thought, 'that would make a really nice calendar," Sara says.

"So I approached Can Assist and said said I wanted to make a calendar for fundraising."

The calendar will feature photos and stories of local women affected by cancer. Some taking part are living with cancer and will not survive it. Others are currently undergoing treatment with the aim of beating it. A couple of others, myself included, have been through it and are now what are termed 'survivors', one has lost a family member. All of us are warriors, Sara says.

For myself, with 11 years now cancer free and largely having "put it all behind me", coming together with people in varying stages of their cancer stories ("I hate the word 'journey', because it sounds like you should pack a bag and it's fun, and it's not," Bronwyn Wallace, one of the calendar 'girls', says) is confronting. It's a harsh reminder of what happened in the past. It brings up old fears and existential angst, pain and sadness. It is heart-rending seeing other people go through the horrors you have experienced. But it is also life affirming, and there is much joy and laughter amongst the 'models', and lovely friendships to be made.

Sara's other aim with the calendar, her slogan, is to "open your eyes to the journey of cancer warriors".

"If you sit with three girlfriends and you're having coffee, one of you is going to have cancer. They're the statistics," says Bronwyn Wallace, who has neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), a rare form of cancer.

"It's Sara having that thought of 'open your eyes, it's everywhere'.

With nearly everyone's lives being touched by cancer some way or another, Sara is hoping the calendar will sell well and make a lot of money to donate to Manning Valley Can Assist. It's a cause also close to Bronwyn's heart - stopping work and with bills piling in, Can Assist helped Bronwyn to the tune of $2000.

Pre-orders are being taken for calendars, which will be printed in November. The cost is $30 per calendar, and all funds raised from the sale of the calendar will go to Can Assist.

To fund production of the calendar, a raffle is being held. Cost is $2 a ticket, and it will be drawn on October 31. Business are coming out of the woodwork to offer prizes, some of the earliest being a four day stay at Oxley Anchorage Harrington, a $150 voucher from Addictive Fashion in Taree, a voucher form Admire Skin and Beauty Taree, and a pamper pack from Saxby's Pharmacy just to name a few.

Raffle tickets and calendar pre-orders are available at Beautique on Bella in Wingham, Centrepoint Cafe in Taree, Harrington Pharmacy and Harrington Oxley Anchorage, Saxby's Pharmacy in Taree, and Classic Beauty and Weddings in Old Bar. Look out for Bronwyn Wallace and her sister Frances Barberie, who will be spot-selling in local shopping centres.

Sara has also been keeping herself busy making products - even while sitting in her chemo chair - t-shirts, keyrings, stubby holders and calico bags to sell to fund the calendar. To see the products Sara has been creating and to keep up to date with the fundraiser, visit the Manning Valley Cancer Awareness 2020 Calendar page.

To place an order for the calendar contact Sara by emailing scroker82@hotmail.com or message her on the Facebook page, or visit the above locations.