By Jena Carr
It was a big day for mothers as well as their families and friends, with many walking or running for breast and ovarian cancer research.
Close to 2500 people attended the Geelong Mother’s Day Classic on May 12 at East Geelong Reserve to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
Mother’s Day Classic chief executive Zara Lawless said the community’s response had exceeded expectations, with 80,000 people attending the event across its 75 locations nationwide.
“The Mother’s Day Classic Foundation is committed to funding the research that will stop breast and ovarian cancer in their tracks,” she said.
“Research is the gift that one generation gives to the next and our community today has been part of something that is bigger than themselves.
“We knew 2024 was going to be an incredibly special year for the Mother’s Day Classic as we extended our impact to include ovarian cancer research in addition to breast cancer research.”
Ms Lawless said the Mother’s Day Classic donated $2.5 million to the National Breast Cancer Foundation last year and created a chance for people to come together.
“It truly is inspiring to see the community unite with an overwhelming feeling of strength, joy, hope and togetherness,” she said.
“The Mother’s Day Classic provides a way for our community to stand stronger together and for people to realise that they are not alone.
“Mother’s Day can be an extremely challenging day for some people for many different reasons including those that have lost loved ones and those that are facing or have been through a life-threatening diagnosis.”
Fundraising for breast and ovarian cancer research is still open, and donations can be made at mothersdayclassic.com.au
