The cool calm of a May morning in Brisbane’s City Botancial Gardens will be disrupted on Mothers Day but it’s all in a very good cause.
Now in it’s 25th year the Mother’s Day Classic is held at various locations around the country raising money for game-changing breast cancer research.
The classic which attracts people of all ages to come to the event village in the Botanic Gardens to enjoy entertainment, food stalls and the run (or walk) has seen almost $40 million donated to research over the years.
With around 55 people diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia each day the stroll or run along a 4.5km or 8km course from the Gardens along the Brisbane River (with the 8km course crossing the iconic Story Bridge and the 4km course crossing the Victoria Bridge) is a major fund raiser.
As well raising money the event raises awareness with those touched by breast cancer joining the “the Survivor Wave” or joining in with others at the front of their chosen walk, where everyone will take a moment to reflect on the strength of the MDC community.
For Nicole Statham one of the ambassadors of the event it has special significance. She won’t be on the ground in Brisbane but will be taking part in her own home town of Myles in country Qld.
“A friend of mine – Toni Brown – has been organising it in our small town for a number of years,” she said.
“I don’t’ live in the town, I live out of it so I’ve never actually been to the event and then in 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So last year Toni asked if I could become an ambassador for our town and I went sure.
“There’s a population 2000 but we hold a mother’s day classic there. So last year I became and ambassador and did radio interviews in Brisbane and stuff like that.”
Nicole believes that this is an important event for communities of all sizes.
“I think you don’t know something until you are actually touched by it,” she explained.
“My grand mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was two – forty-six years prior to me and she died for it,” she said.
“Now it’s not a death sentence. The mother’s day classic raises so much money, it helps with research and it’s changing the lives of women who get diagnosed because it doesn’t necessarily mean a death sentence any more. I think research is so important and any money we can raise and raise awareness is critical.
“Me personally I’m doing superwell now but a friend of mine who was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn’t have a mastectomy or chemo I just had a lumpectomy and radiation. Her and I went through radiation together, she’s nine years older that me and she’s up it Townsville. When we were going through radiation we were talking to each other – that the end of 2020. Last week she was told she had less than six months to live. Hers has come back and is in her spine and liver for me that’s a little – oh my goodness. Is that going to be me?”
Tens of thousands of people will unite on May 8 for the Mother’s Day Classic to celebrate and honour those affected by breast cancer and raise vital funds for research. There will be up to 70 event locations nationwide where supporters can walk, run or jog for the cause on Mother’s Day.
Almost 1.5 million Australians have participated in the Mother’s Day Classic over the past 24 years, making it Australia’s largest fun run and walk for breast cancer research according to event CEO Zara Lawless.
“The MDC community should be very proud of this important milestone which marks 25 years of impact,” she said.
“The MDC has grown quite literally from a walk in the park to an iconic event in the Australian calendar. Since it all began in 1998, the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation has donated nearly $40 million to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to fund life-saving breast cancer research.”
After two challenging years, the Mother’s Day Classic is ready to deliver a fun and inspiring event experience you won’t want to miss in 2022.
To keep participants and volunteers safe, MDC is implementing COVID-safe measures and will be guided by the vaccination requirements and health and safety guidelines as determined by each state’s government authority.
This year, in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Darwin, Hobart, Geelong and Western Sydney participants will experience the true magic of traditional MDC events. There will be the buzz of the event village, live entertainment, music, and food stalls to enjoy throughout the morning.
Participants staying local will receive a commemorative medallion at the finish line, have access to downloadable race bibs and tribute cards, as well as access to the online fundraising dashboard and fitness tracker.
This year, the Mother’s Day Classic and Sport Australia are excited to announce they have come together to launch a community program called ‘MDC Move’. It can be tough to find the time and motivation to get moving – so this free program is available to all Australian’s to help shake things up and make you a Mover.
Ms Lawless, said: “The Mother’s Day Classic Foundation is thrilled to be partnering with Sport Australia to run a free, six-week communications campaign focused on increasing the physical activity of Australian women and girls preparing for the iconic Mother’s Day Classic.”
Proceeds go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for breast cancer research to improve outcomes for those affected by breast cancer. The Mother’s Day Classic Foundation supports the NBCF’s goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.
