On 8 March 2021, International Women’s Day, the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation is honouring all women touched by breast cancer.
International Women’s Day is a key event in the lead-up to the 2021 Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, the annual fun run/walk to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research. It represents a timely opportunity to celebrate the achievements, commitment and passion of women touched by breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and 55 women are diagnosed each day. Eight women lose their life to breast cancer every day in Australia and one in seven will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
There are so many extraordinary women within the Mother’s Day Classic community who have been touched by breast cancer during their lives – as a sufferer, survivor, carer, friend, family member or supporter.
This year, the Mother’s Day Classic on 9 May is out to add significantly to that funding total by introducing a new initiative: the 2021 Mother’s Day Classic Local, which will give participants the flexibility to choose their own distance and location for the event and take part on a day or time that suits them, all in the name of getting active for breast cancer research.
The Mother’s Day Classic Community Ambassadors are leading the way to drum up support for the big day: an inspirational group of people who shine a light on breast cancer and spread the word, encouraging others to get active for breast cancer research.
Many are breast cancer survivors who share their own story in the hope that it will inspire others to fundraise for breast cancer research and enhance research that leads to early detection or saving another woman’s life. Others get involved to honour a loved one with breast cancer.
Louise Davidson is the co-founder and chair of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation.
The idea for the Mother’s Day Classic was born when industry superannuation funds, especially those with large female memberships, were seeing that breast cancer featured strongly in the highest group of diseases for accessing death and disability benefits.
There was simple logic to establishing the Mother’s Day Classic: there was no point in advocating for women’s retirement outcomes if they were dying prematurely from breast cancer.
Twenty-four years on, almost 1.5 million participants have taken part across Australia and the Mother’s Day Classic has grown from a walk in the park to an iconic event on the national calendar.
It is a day to remember and pay tribute to those touched by the disease, something Louise knows only too well, having lost her mother to breast cancer and also having had her own scare with breast cancer, which resulted in a positive prognosis.
For those who want to run, walk or jog the Mother’s Day Classic Local with other participants this Mother’s Day, on Sunday, 9 May, in a COVID-safe manner, a host of local locations will be revealed next week.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and sadly, eight Australians die from it every single day.
In the 24-year history of the Mother’s Day Classic, almost $38 million has been donated to fund game-changing breast cancer research.
