After raising $2500 last year for breast cancer, Stewart is again running the fundraiser, but wants to beat her first effort and get Tamworth involved.

“I want it to be about the community a bit more, so I’m calling for all businesses to come on down to check it out and find a way to be involved. We ran raffles last year, so I’d love to hear from any local businesses who feel they can contribute and be a part of it, maybe with giveaways to encourage people to come down,” she said.

Fender and Guild Guitars have sponsored the Blue Mountains artist for many years and this year the proceeds of the Fender Super Jam will go to Busk for Breast Cancer.

Last year’s fundraiser included artists McAlister Kemp, Troy Cassar-Daley and Laurel Edwards, O’Shea and the Topp Twins, but this year’s performers are top secret until the day.

“They’ll do a couple of acoustic songs and we’ll have donation collectors around the place,” Stewart said.

All money raised goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support its goal of no deaths by 2030.

“The goal is to take this national and I would love to see Busk for Breast Cancer be a national radio broadcast,” Stewart said.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray will again donate the proceeds from his celebrity bowls match to the cause .

“Dobe Newton (who captains the celebrity country music team) gave me some pink ribbon Dunlops, so I’ll be dusting those off and bringing them back this year to play,” she said.

Busk for Breast Cancer will run for an hour from 5pm on January 24. The Bowls for Breast Cancer will be at South Tamworth Bowling Club on  January 23 at 10am.

Any businesses wanting to get involved can email Tamara at management@tamarastewart.com.au

Singer Stewart touched by friend’s diagnosis

TAMARA Stewart has a very personal reason for getting behind the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s work.

Although she’s been an ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation for some time, the disease was brought home to her in the past 12 months with her best friend diagnosed.

“My perception of the disease has completely been brought to the forefront this year with my best friend battling the disease. It has made me more driven to do more about it,” she said.

Stewart said she found the  foundation’s goal of no deaths by 2030 to be “really bold and optimistic”. 

“They’re working towards this whole thing and I find that really hopeful. I’m going through it with my friend and it’s been really, really progressive with her, but the more I learn about the disease, the more I realise it was just a matter of time before someone close to me was affected.” 

Unfortunately, that’s the reality of it,” she said.

Since becoming involved with the charity, Stewart said she had met plenty of people in her life she didn’t even know had been affected by breast cancer.

“It doesn’t define them as a person, but it defines the way they appreciate the people around them.”