Community Rallies Around Bris Muso Tara Simmons After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

An outpouring of support has begun for revered musician Tara Simmons, whose friends have launched a fundraising campaign to support her following a recent breast cancer diagnosis.

Although organisers Emily Nelson and Ben Preece concede the recent GoFundMe drive has been launched somewhat "defiantly" — "Tara isn't one to ask for help during times like this; in fact, she has insinuated that we don't do this at all", Preece wrote — the community and those close to Simmons have come out of the woodwork to assist her in her fight for recovery.

Dubbed "Tit'll Be All Right", the campaign has already amassed more than $1600 towards its $15,000 goal, at the time of writing, in an effort to help cover Simmons' mounting medical costs.

"It moved so quick," the campaign's page explains. "Tara noticed a small change and promptly she went to the doctor the next day. 24 hours later, and the news no one wants to hear — she had breast cancer. ‘The Big C’. One week later, chemo started.

"An outpouring of love and support from family and friends quickly began while Tara remained brave … But the seriousness is confronting and the reality devastating — she has multiple tumours in the left breast along with malignant lymph nodes.

"She’ll be hit with a brutal six-month chemotherapy regime, followed by a mastectomy and radiation."

Her treatment is expected to force her out of work for an estimated six to 12 months, her friends say, though "she is adamant to attempt as much work as she possibly can in this time".

"The reality of our health system and her lack of ability to take on her usual workload has seen her bank accounts drained and is quickly sucking Tara’s resources," the page explains. "Needless to say, this stuff ain’t cheap.

"We will all be doing what we can in the coming months — we might even plan an event or two. But in the meantime, please give what you can, share far and wide, and support someone who has enriched so many — with your help, she can continue to do so."

Donate to Tara Simmons' "Tit'll Be All Right" GoFundMe campaign here.