Mothers Day Classic

Our sponsors say…

Members Equity Bank is an active supporter of the Mother’s Day Classic and is entering its fifth year of major sponsorship in 2009. The event is a great way for Members Equity Bank staff to work with the community, with many staff volunteering on the day and others assisting in the organisation of local events.

Over the years, we’ve seen the event grow from strength to strength. The Mother’s Day Classic has not only played an important role in raising the awareness of breast cancer but continues to enable ground breaking research through the funds it raises and donates to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

We are very proud to be associated with such a positive and progressive event.

Paul Kelly
National Advertising and Sponsorship Manager,
Members Equity Bank

HESTA is proud to have been involved in the Mother’s Day Classic since the event’s inception. As the industry super fund for health and community services, it’s important to us to support initiatives that work towards improving the health and wellbeing of our members. HESTA’s sponsorship of the Mother’s Day Classic helps to support our members who are involved in cancer care and research and those who have been affected by breast cancer.

The majority of our members are women and we are pleased to be involved in an event that works to raise awareness of the impact of breast cancer on the lives of sufferers and their families and friends and contributes to finding ways to treat, and hopefully, cure this disease.

Anne-Marie Corboy
CEO, HESTA

The Mother’s Day Classic event provides our people with an opportunity to involve their friends and family in a fun activity while supporting an important cause. The PwC Foundation is proud to be associated with Mother’s Day Classic and the contribution it is making to breast cancer research.

Shae Watkins
PwC Foundation

Superpartners is proud to stand by Women in Super in the fight against breast cancer. The Mothers Day Classic is an important day in our calendar and we will continue to support this worthwhile event, as it gives us the chance to make a difference to our community.

Stephanie Edwards
Executive Manager - Business Development & Marketing, Superpartners

Our participants say…

My wife Filomena was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2000. She was 35 years old and we had two young children, then aged 4 years and 18 months. It was important for us to understand what support services and what research was being committed to. This was all part of our focus on understanding as much as possible in relation to breast cancer, and whether there was any chance for my wife to prolong her quality of life for as long as possible.

When the Mother’s Day Classic was brought to my attention I decided that a great way for me to be involved in the ongoing push for breast cancer research was to train and participate personally in the run, to get fitter and stronger, to raise money and just as importantly raise awareness to my friends and work colleagues who I sought sponsorship from. The first year I raised $700 with which my wife was so pleased. I promised her that I would continue to raise money and work with NBCF/MDC to help raise the awareness.

My wife passed away four weeks after that first Mother’s Day Classic in which I participated in 2003. Since then, I have raised over $30,000 and have been able to attract others to attend the runs/walks, and they have also raised money and awareness themselves.

It’s an important and easy way to include families, and loved ones, to remember those who are suffering, those who have survived and those who have passed away from this terrible disease. Those who participate are all appreciative of the generous support and sponsorship provided by the event sponsors.”

Lindsay Mullins
Participant at the Melbourne event and largest individual fund-raiser 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008

I would love you to pass on my congratulations to all involved. Such fabulous numbers and enthusiasm! I swear the group took me up the hill on that run.”

Lisa Westlake
Physiotherapist and Melbourne MDC participant

Participating in this year’s MDC helped us get through our first Mother’s Day without our mother, who died of breast cancer in September 2004.

Before she died, Mum wrote out a list of things she wanted to do. As it turned out she died so suddenly that she was unable to do any of the things on her wish list. One of them was to participate in the Mother’s Day Classic. So we decided to enter the 2005 event and do it in her memory.

Seeing lots of people wearing tribute cards made us realise we were not the only ones suffering from grief. There was that realisation that you are not alone. That really helped us get through the day.”

Sharon Maasland
Participant and largest individual fund-raiser at the Sydney event

In 2005 a group of us at my work place decided, as a team building exercise, to walk in the Mother’s Day Classic. It was a fantastic day and we all had a great time.

I was humbled by the tributes on the other walkers’ tops. I am one of the fortunate; I have not been personally touched by knowing someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

This year myself and one of my colleagues plan to run the 4km course, the first ever fun run we have both attempted.”

Rose-Marie
MDC participant

Our volunteers say…

After 3 years as a volunteer with the Mother’s Day Classic the event is a now a permanent fixture on my calendar! It’s a real buzz to give your time for such a worthwhile cause. You get to meet lots of wonderful people, a lot of whom have been personally touched by breast cancer.

The spirit on the day is infectious, everyone just wants to get out there, have some fun and support breast cancer research. By helping to make it happen you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face.”

Jo

Our beneficiaries say…

Women In Super, through the Mothers Day Classic, is the largest single annual donor to breast cancer research in Australia. Last year’s event raised  $1.2 million. To date, the run has generated more than $4.4 million in funding.

This vital funding has enabled NBCF to establish the Women in Super Breast Cancer Research Scholarship, a special program to encourage new researchers to enter the field of breast cancer. The program funds specific and necessary breast cancer research projects for a period of three years and six young researchers are now completing their investigations as a result of this program.”

Sue Murray
General Manager, National Breast Cancer Foundation

Our breast cancer researchers say…

Breast cancer metastasis is the major cause of poor patient health and is the primary reason why the majority of breast cancer patients succumb to their disease.

To address this problem breast cancer scientists are identifying factors in cancer cells that give the cells the ability to spread and grow in other regions of the body, such as the bone. It is hoped that by identifying these factors it will be possible to identify patients with an increased risk of developing metastasis and ultimately use this knowledge to generate new therapies directed at these factors to stop their normal function resulting in the direct destruction of the metastatic cancer cells.

The importance of combating metastasis in breast cancer is vital for the effective treatment of this cancer type. The advances in scientific technology are making the identification of factors involved in breast cancer metastasis more efficient and accurate; however, to take full advantage of these advances, financial support for projects is greatly needed. Ongoing financial support from sources such as the Mothers Day Classic will greatly enhance the ability of researchers to convert their exciting discoveries from the laboratories to the bedside of patients where it is desperately needed.”

Dr John Price
St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research