SINCE she was diagnosed with breast cancer 14 months ago, Renee Bogdan has been a passionate crusader for women's health and fundraising to find a cure for the disease.

The mother of five, personal trainer and owner of two Curves Fitness Centres in Toowoomba was a guest speaker at Fitzy's Colour of Change breast cancer lunch held yesterday.

"I hope that I can inspire women to have regular breast checks, maintain a healthy lifestyle and give generously to find a cause and cure for breast cancer," Mrs Bogdan said.

While survival rates of breast cancer are improving through advances in management of the disease, Dr Eric Donaldson, also a guest speaker at the event, stressed the importance of awareness and early detection through mammograms, which are provided by BreastScreen Queensland.

Dr Donaldson, who is a surgeon with the Toowoomba BreastScreen service, provided an informative medical and statistical overview of the disease.

"Patients are well looked after in Toowoomba through state-of-the-art facilities at St Andrew's Hospital," he said.

The 155 guests were treated to a five-course degustation menu designed by Fitzy's master chef Mark Kennedy.

Fitzy's marketing manager Anita Fitzgibbons was confident this year's event would beat the $15,000 raised at last year's Colour of Change lunch.