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The Mother’s Day Classic is Australia’s biggest fundraiser for breast cancer research with everyone from individuals to firefighters and our largest corporations participating in the event. Now in it’s 18th year, the Mother’s Day Classic 2016 fun run and walk will be taking off on Sunday May 8th at more than one hundred locations around Australia. So mark the date on your calendar and register now!
What started in 1998 as a way to honour those affected by breast cancer and to support medical research into the disease, the Mother’s Day Classic has grown into Australia’s largest breast cancer fundraising event involving more than 130,000 participants around the country, raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Organised by Women in Super, the colourful event has become a way for families and friends to participate in a healthy, fun activity on Mother’s Day.
“It is a powerful day for families and friends to support breast cancer survivors and those who have lost loved ones to the disease,” said Mother’s Day Classic CEO Sharon Morris. “Mother’s Day Classic is not about breaking speed records. Our focus is on participation, whether you walk, run or volunteer.”
“It is also about fundraising, and this year we have set a new target to provide $4 million for the National Breast Cancer Foundation to fund life-changing breast cancer research.”
Increasingly, the Mothers’ Day Classic has become a popular team building exercise, with many corporate and community teams competing for bragging rights as the highest team fundraiser.
For 2016, Australia’s biggest national Mother’s Day event is setting participants a special challenge.
“The more we raise, the faster a cure can be found – this year if every participant raises just $50, we’ll reach our target of $4 million to fund research,” Ms Morris said.
“Our support helps the National Breast Cancer Foundation with the ultimate goal of no more deaths from breast cancer. NBCF funds life-changing research including better diagnosis and treatment options and improved quality of life after treatment.”
“Mother’s Day Classic participants can be confident that 100 percent of fundraising from the event goes straight to NBCF – there’s not many charity events that can say that.”
Since it began, the Mother’s Day Classic has raised $27.4 million and funded more than 30 projects, making it the largest fundraiser for breast cancer research in Australia.
“NBCF projects have been internationally recognised for their impact on health outcomes and quality of life for women with breast cancer. This research has outcomes which can be applied to all cancers, not just breast cancer,” Ms Morris said.
One project currently being funded by the Mother’s Day Classic is by Associate Professor Janette Vardy from the University of Sydney. Janette is researching life after breast cancer, to improve knowledge of survivorship. This includes studying long-term side effects and chronic health issues, with a focus on cognitive function, fatigue, physical activity and weight management.
Another research project being funded by the Mother’s Day Classic is by Associate Professor Wendy Ingman at the University of Adelaide. Wendy is researching how pregnancy protects against breast cancer, as there is the potential to develop new therapies that mimic pregnancy to induce protection in young women. This could reduce lifetime risk and may particularly benefit women at high risk of breast cancer. Her concept is that early pregnancy produces a ‘memory’ in the spinal cord that changes how breast tissue functions, potentially making the tissue more resistant to cancer.
The Mother’s Day Classic will be held in more than 100 locations, from capital cities to remote towns, all around Australia. Registrations are OPEN NOW at http://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/register/
