The Hawksleys

Support our efforts in the 2026 Mother’s Day Classic!

Our team is participating in the Mother's Day Classic, Sunday 10 May!

Together, we'll be lacing up our running shoes and taking a step forward for women's cancer research, and we'd really love your support!

We're walking the talk and joining the Mother’s Day Classic to help raise funds and awareness to fight breast and ovarian cancers.

Tragically, every day in Australia 63 people diagnosed and 12 lose their lives to breast or ovarian cancer.

Please make a donation today to support our team. There’s only one way to stop breast and ovarian cancers - together!

Thank you for supporting our team.

Background:

At 45, Sandy is 4 years in remission this July from triple negative, stage 3, grade 4 breast cancer. This was treated with what the Oncologist referred to as "the freight train" and "the red devil" of chemo, radiation and a double mastectomy - she's now at 5 related surgeries, with another two due this year. Treatment also completely wiped her estrogen and created other side effects that are now lifelong. However, she is grateful to be alive. After losing big brother, Andy in 2015 at the age of 48, to an unknown cancer - doctors could not locate the primary due to its rapid spread - it was a shock to find out (after the diagnosis and genetic testing) that 1. Sandy had the BRCA 1 gene and 2. Andy likely died of the same disease due to the same genetic mutation. This especially compounded her grief, as the only reason she got a mammogram at all - on a razor's edge before becoming stage 4/terminal - was constantly hearing Andy's voice nagging (guiding) her to do so. Since then, beautiful cousin, Ali was diagnosed with the same damn thing (stage 2) at the age of 27, right after Sandy completed chemo. After being told she was in remission, we celebrated as a family. It felt like we went through and beat this thing together, cities apart. The following Christmas, she learned the disease had spread. She travelled the world for treatment, advocated for other women (and men), completed her law degree, got married, was profiled by People magazine and spread light and inspiration wherever she went. Once again, she was given positive news. During this time, cousin Philippa was also diagnosed with - and thankfully beat - HER2 positive breast cancer. The following Christmas (just gone), Ali learned, once again, that the cancer had spread. The family got together on Valentine's Day for patriarch, Jim's 90th. Ali seemed tired, but glowing and in good spirits. What a shock to learn that that very afternoon, she went into hospital and never came out. She moved into hospice some two weeks ago now, became unconscious the weekend before last and sadly passed away the next day, surrounded by family. It was that quick. All of the above is why we will be giving up breakfast in bed this Mother's Day to raise money for breast cancer research - much more still needs to be done and we're sick of the people we care about going through this. This is the very least we can do. Please feel free to donate, sponsor or even join us on this walk. Most importantly - please get your mammograms and all your cancer checks regularly - you too, fellas. Women 40+ are bulk-billed through Breast Screen. if something doesn't feel right, DON'T take any cr@p from your doctor! Ali and Sandy were both repeatedly told nonsense including being "too young to get cancer". If you need to lie, exaggerate or not tell Breast Screen you have a lump to get the checks you need - do it! Also, a lump is often the last symptom to appear. If you find yourself overwhelmingly tired for no good reason and (especially) if you develop a sudden intolerance to any alcohol, listen to your body. Get checked! Please also regularly give blood/plasma if you are able. We can’t count how many transfusions our family has needed just to get through chemo. This is common for cancer patients - something many people don't realise. Thank you everyone. Stay well 🙏