Mothers Day Classic

Getting up for Mother’s Day Classic last Sunday - I was very excited but it was dark, it was cold, and I was very nervous as I hadn’t gotten any faster and I hadn’t lost a single kilo!  I just hoped I wouldn’t embarrass myself. 

But then I got there and the atmosphere was fantastic - it wasn’t just a fun run I really felt like I was part of something important.  I started talking to others in the crowd and heard the statistics - 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85 !  And I heard so many stories that reminded me that I am so lucky that it is the weather and kilos that are my biggest upsets for the day. 

Sarah lost her aunt to breast cancer and discovered that she too carried the breast cancer gene giving her a 95% chance of having breast cancer herself; so at the young age of 27, Sarah had a full mastetomy to avoid that diagnosis later on.  27!!!! 

Dawn was in her early 40s when diagnosed and found telling her diagnosis to those she loved harder than finding out herself.  Di, diagnosed at 62, now worries about her 3 daughters and her new grandaughter. 

Cheryl, diagnosed at 31, before going through full chemo and radiotherapy had to make life-changing decisions regarding fertility and her future as a mother. 

And 7 year old Matthew lost his mum 9 months ago to the disease…  

So I hit the pavement with renewed vigour and was so proud to be supporting such a wonderful event and important cause.  I went back to the assembly area afterwards and just took in the atmosphere - it was amazing - emotional but so inspiring!  Next year I will definately be there again and will be encouraging more of my friends and family to join in the Mother’s Day Classic - let’s help raise the funds so that the researchers can find the answers to this terrible disease. 

Congratulations to the organisers for a fantastic event and for giving such a true and important meaning to Mother’s Day! 

Thank you to everyone that supported the Mother’s Day Classic - from the organisers, the runners & walkers, the sponsors, the fundraisers & those amazing volunteers - well done on making this year’s Classic the best one ever.
 
When my father was dying a few years I promised him on his death bed that in anything I tried in the future I would aim to make a difference.  It is with great interest that I noticed that the first line on the front page of the MDC website it says “a chance to make a real difference”.
 
Well I can say that to all that participated on Sunday, we all made a difference.  Well done!
 
All funds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation have a positive impact in shaping our future in their quest to finding a cure for breast cancer.  Along the way they will save many lives of Australian women.  Nearly all of us will know someone that has been affected by breast cancer and it must be gratifying to know that chances of survival have improved dramatically in recent years following the increase in research and awareness.
 
You may not know which life was saved, but have a smile on your face knowing that you helped in whatever way in “making a difference”.
 
As always Mother’s Day produced magnificent weather.  Chookie & my gorgeous wifey Kylie went to Parramatta Park for the first time after years at the Domain in Sydney.  To see a crowd well over 3,000 was amazing given that the MDC only started here last year.  Chookie had the wonderful honour in starting the 4km race.  As she was running the race herself, she was tempted to do the old schoolyard trick in taking off herself before saying “go”.  I must say that Chookie is improving with age as she seems to be moving better now as a 62yo.  If she keeps improving with age then I might have to come up with a new nickname for her as she won’t be the old chook for much longer!
 
I have often said before that Mother’s Day is my favourite day of the year & once again it didn’t let me down.  The happiness I felt when I saw Chookie’s face cross the finish line (as a symbolic gesture that she beat Breast Cancer for another year) was something special & something that is hard to describe in words. 
 
A few weeks ago we announced Chookie’s goal of making the top three in her age category … to be honest I thought it was going to be a tough challenge for her especially with all those super fit grannies & it would mean a few weeks of training - something which is foreign to her … but she did it & guess what?  Not only did she reach her goal of making the top three … she won her age category!!  Woohoo Chookie!!   Now we had one very stiff & sorry Chookie at lunch but boy was she so happy - her grin was wider than Sydney Harbour.  Apart from winning dad’s heart over 37 years ago, I am not sure if she ever won anything else in her life.  Now she is an “elite athlete” and is talking about “defending her title” next year! 
 
Now it doesn’t matter where you finish, so long as you participated & I was so happy to see so many people show up in supporting a great cause.  It was great to see so many men in support of this great cause as well.  Well done guys in supporting your loved ones.  It was also superb seeing so many young children out & having fun.  Not only are they enjoying a healthy lifestyle, they are also made aware about Breast Cancer issues at a young age. 
 
After the race it was great to see everyone cool down together & enjoy the entertainment.  I reckon the boys from Mix were the busiest as they must have given out hundreds of spot prizes.  Well done to NBCF and the sponsors for providing so many prizes.
 
To all the mothers out there, I hope you had a great Mother’s Day.  You are all very, very special and precious to us. 
 
I regularly joke about some funny things that mothers say to their kids … and how they are often threats.  I reckon a heard a hundred of them on Sunday.  My favourite one was by my very own mother Chookie … “I brought you into this world … and I can take you out as well.”  Aaah yes, dear old, sweet, innocent mothers!
 
Finally I would like to thank the National Breast Cancer Foundation for giving me the opportunity to express my thoughts over the past few weeks.  Hopefully you enjoyed it.  After almost losing mum in 2000, I am forever grateful in having her with me today and for many more years to come.  I also look forward to spending many more decades with my beautiful wife Kylie.  I wish all of ye out there the same good fortune.
 
Sincerely yours & I look forward to seeing ye again next year!
 
Adrian Raftery, aka Mr Taxman.
 
 
PS I love you loads mum and I am so so proud of you!

Two years ago I celebrated my 70th birthday, I asked my friends not to present me with gifts but, instead, to give the more thoughtful gift of breast cancer research. By encouraging friends and family to sponsor my participation in the 4km walk at the Mothers Day Classic, I felt that together we could make a bigger contribution to something very worthwhile.

It turned out to be one of the best birthdays ever – at my age I certainly don’t need any material gifts and think that the Mothers Day Classic is a wonderful way to help fight breast cancer. When I was diagnosed, I felt overwhelmed but determined to participate in some capacity for cancer research. I now know that there is a big community of survivors and the Mothers Day Classic is the best way to celebrate life, friends and family.

If you can’t walk or run yourself on Sunday 11 May, why not sponsor someone who can?