A record 120,000 Australians stepped out for breast cancer research in the annual Mother’s Day Classic walk and run on Sunday 8 May. The highest number of participants in the event’s 14 year history attended 37 different events held across the nation.
“The community has come together in huge numbers right around the country in support of breast cancer research at the Mother’s Day Classic,” said Louise Davidson, National Chair, Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic.
“It was touching to see so many people walking and running to support or remember a loved one affected by breast cancer. Thousands of people wore tributes pinned to their backs with messages of love and support.”
“The success of this year’s events means we will see the total funds donated by the Mother’s Day Classic to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s research programs exceed $10 million since our first event in 1998,” she added.
A sea of pink and colourful team t-shirts lined start lines across the country as thousands of participants dedicated their Mother’s Day to finding a cure for future generations.
Showing their support for the nation’s largest charity event, families, friends, colleagues, teams, celebrities and MPs joined a walk or run, with many wearing tribute cards dedicating their morning to loved ones with breast cancer. The festival atmosphere on the day is an opportunity to celebrate the life of survivors, pay tribute to those lost to the disease and to enjoy doing something special on Mother’s Day.
Every step taken by walkers, runners, volunteers and fundraisers helps support National Breast Cancer Foundation’s breast cancer research projects investigating prevention and cure for a disease that affects one in nine Australian women. The 2011 fundraising total will be announced when Mother’s Day Classic fundraising closes on 31 May.
The Mother’s Day Classic was held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Parramatta and Sydney’s Domain plus 27 regional towns across Australia.
Organised by: Women in Super, a not for profit association of women working in the superannuation and financial service industries, created the Mother’s Day Classic in 1998.
Major sponsor: ME Bank has proudly sponsored the Mother’s Day Classic since 2005. ME Bank are further supporting breast cancer research via their new EveryDay Transaction Account with limited edition PINK Debit MasterCard. For every purchase made using the PINK card, ME Bank will donate 1 cent to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s research projects.
Messages of support from the Prime Minister and the Governor-General are attached.
