This International Women’s Day, 8 March, 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.

Since 1998 the Mother’s Day Classic has donated almost $38 million to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, supporting game-changing research into breast cancer prevention, early detection and effective treatment. Through the funding of research, those that get active for breast cancer today are leaving a legacy for the women who are diagnosed tomorrow, helping to understand risk factors, develop new treatments, improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients, as well as treatment outcomes, and ultimately save more lives.

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.

Kym Curtis, Tootgarook, VICTORIA
Kym Curtis was a 45-year-old pharmaceutical rep with a three-year-old son when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“When I was first diagnosed, I thought I’ll just have six weeks off and I’ll be able to work through. When they got inside, they discovered the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, stage 3.”

Kym endured six months of chemotherapy and also radiation therapy. She developed peripheral neuropathy in her feet and hands and had to have a spinal cord stimulator inserted.

“The Mother’s Day Classic is close to my heart now and since my diagnosis I have participated in the event every year and raised funds for research. As a mother and a survivor, the MDC is so meaningful to me, and I want to continue my life doing everything I can to stop other women going through what I went through, as well as saving lives.

“The more money raised for research the better the future will look for so many women and men, not to mention all the extended families and friends who are impacted by a loved one’s diagnosis of breast cancer.”

Rebecca Moffat, Gold Coast, QLD
Rebecca Moffat was a keen runner prior to her diagnosis. At the age of 26 her breast cancer was detected and she had a double mastectomy. She has since endured three reconstructive surgeries.

Rebecca was shocked to learn the cancer had tripled in size within three weeks of her first medical appointment.

“I just thought I didn’t have that much in the beginning, so I wasn’t losing a lot. I decided to take them both (breasts) off and deal with whatever comes up. Now I am passionate about the cause based on my own experience and focused on promoting early detection with a focus on young women.”

Elaine McLemon, Southern Highlands, NSW
Elaine McLemon was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Then came metastatic cancer last year in her bones and liver.

She had to give up work as a sleep technician due to the side effects. Now Elaine assists her daughter Renee Henry in running the Huskisson Mother’s Day Classic event.

“Renee and I figure this is just part of giving something back. The treatment I am on now is a result of research which unfortunately was only being trialled when my niece passed away from breast cancer.”

Nicole McTigue, Condamine, QLD
At 40, Nicole McTigue started having mammograms, as she had two other forms of cancer in her 30s: melanoma and thyroid cancer. She felt that given her history, it was the best approach.

“I went for my annual breast screen last year and received a call back to say I had breast cancer. I had three cancers within 30 centimetres of each other, all non-related. I’m the luckiest unlucky person I know. My doctor said I wouldn’t have made 50 if I didn’t have my mammogram early.”

Louise Davidson AM, Co-founder and Chair, Mother’s Day Classic Foundation
In 1998, Louise Davidson co-founded the Mother’s Day Classic with the late Mavis Robertson.

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.