Where Your Money Goes
Over the past 26 years, the Mother's Day Classic community has donated $44 million for life-saving breast cancer research.
Thanks to research, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer has increased from 84 per cent to 92 per cent since the Mother’s Day Classic started in 1998. There’s still more to be done to achieve the goal of zero deaths from breast cancer.
Tragically, treatment advances in ovarian cancer have been limited, and treatment approaches have barely changed in 30 years. The survival rate for ovarian cancer is just 49 per cent and there remains no early detection test.
This is why the Mother’s Day Classic has decided to go further in 2024 and invite our participants to run or walk in support of ovarian cancer research, in addition to breast cancer research.
Participants in the 2024 Mother's Day Classic event will be provided with the option of taking part in support of and fundraising for breast cancer research, ovarian cancer research or both – it’s up to you!
In 2024 we will partner with both the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation to fund game changing research that is focussed on saving women’s lives. We will continue to raise funds through community fundraising, online fundraising, donations, merchandise sales and registration fees.
Once event and administration costs have been deducted, proceeds will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) to fund life-changing research. Mother's Day Classic Foundation will continue to endeavour to keep costs low, so as much as possible can be donated.
NBCF
National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research towards their vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer.
OCRF
The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) dedicated to raising funds for the most innovative ovarian cancer research with the most significant long-term impact.
Current Research Projects
Dr Amy McCart Reed
University of Queensland
New biomarkers to predict treatment response in patients with high-risk aggressive breast cancer
Patients with aggressive breast cancers, including those with large tumours, high-grade triple negative or HER2 positive breast cancers are at high risk of treatment resistance and of the cancer returning after treatment, leading to poor survival outcomes. These patients often receive therapy before tumour removal (termed neoadjuvant therapy) aimed at reducing the size of the cancer prior to surgery. Currently, there are few biomarkers to predict which patients will respond to neoadjuvant therapy and those that will not, and response to neoadjuvant treatment is an indicator of patient outcome.
This project, led by Dr Amy McCart Reed (University of Queensland), will use cutting-edge genomic techniques to identify markers of treatment response or resistance. The study also aims to identify the most effective genomic technology, for personalised medicine, to profile individual tumours to match patients with the best therapy.
Prof Kum Kum Khanna
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Repurposing an arthritis drug for the treatment of metastatic triple negative breast cancer
The spread of breast cancer to the brain is a major cause of mortality for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study Prof Kum Kum Khanna (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute) will examine whether Auranofin, a drug proven to be safe for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can cross the blood-brain barrier, can be repurposed for the treatment of metastatic TNBC. Auranofin will be tested in combination with other FDA approved anti-cancer drugs known to reach the brain to identify new combination therapies for the treatment for metastatic TNBC.
How Your Donations are Making a Difference
Creating a Better Tomorrow
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia with 1 in 7 women diagnosed in their lifetime. Incidence of breast cancer in men is also on the rise with 1 in 600 men diagnosed in their lifetime. We all know someone who has been affected in one way or another.
NBCF aims to stop deaths from breast cancer by identifying, funding and championing research that will save lives. Funds raised for the Mother’s Day Classic will be donated to NBCF to help to create a better tomorrow for those affected by breast cancer.
Every Dollar Makes an Impact
This year, it is expected that 9 Australians will die from breast cancer each day. We all know someone who has been affected in one way or another and that’s why we are committed to raising funds for life-saving research. Every dollar makes an impact, provides hope to those diagnosed with breast cancer, and a better future for generations to come.
