After dedicating 30 years of her life to nursing and raising a family, Cheryl Roche, had only one item on her bucket list.
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She wanted to re-enact an iconic scene from Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
The need to tick this item off became more urgent when Cheryl was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
Armed with an assortment of coloured cloth and more sparkles, sequins and feather boas than can be found in a drag bar on a Saturday night, Cheryl's sister, Beryl Mason embraced the challenge head on.
The Southern Highlands sisters took to the streets of Bundanoon on May 6, where Cheryl had the opportunity to reign as queen for the day.
Cheryl was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and undertook a mastectomy in November that year.
In 2014 she went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy which kept the cancer at bay.
Tragically, Cheryl's husband passed in 2016 and in 2017 her cancer resurfaced.
Cheryl made the decision not to undergo further treatment.
"You get frustrated," Cheryl said.
"The outcome doesn't outweigh the effort."
Cheryl was originally one of 10 siblings.
Sadly, there are only five left with three loved ones already succumbing to cancer.
"Cheryl has spent her life giving up her time to look after other people," Beryl said.
As a mother of two children and grandmother of three, Cheryl believes you can't be sad and sit behind a door crying.
The sisters keep their father's advice close to their hearts.
"Life is not about what happens to you, it's about what you do with it."
The story of Priscilla Queen of the Desert resonates with Cheryl.
"The characters had a pretty tough life and chose to rise above it," Cheryl said.
"I've had a marvelous life."
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