By SHELLY LIU
Wet and showery weather could not stop Melburnians turning out in their tens of thousands to fight breast cancer.
This year’s Mother’s Day Classic national fun run – the 18th year of fundraising – attracted about 40,000 runners in Melbourne, and about 120,000 nationally.
Event organiser Sharon Morris said the majority of the participants knew someone affected by the disease.
“We’ll often see generations of mum, grandma and their daughters walking together,” she said.
Runner Debbie Gwyther-Jones said she had lost two friends and an aunt to breast cancer. She ran her 4km race with her two daughters and sister.
“I had been to my friend’s funeral last week and my auntie passed away a long time ago because of it. Breast cancer is really a big killer for women,” she said.
She said the atmosphere of the event was great and hoped to bring a bigger team next year.
Facts about breast cancer in Australia:
* On average, seven women die from breast cancer every day.
* Currently, one in eight Australian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
* By 2020, it is projected that 17,210 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Australia – an average of 47 women every day.
Jim Abrehardt took part for the second time this year. He and his pink-tutu-clad team were awarded second place in the best-dressed competition this year.
The team hoped their bright costume would help raise public awareness about raising money for breast cancer research.
Jim said they came up with the design in a flash. “My friends and I had no idea at first, and then it just came.”
He said it was fun to run for such a good cause.
Volunteers from Monash University – the largest tertiary group – showed strong community support for the event, offering cheers and high fives for runners as they crossed the finish line.
Despite the chill, the support team were at their stations from 6am until 12 noon to help the runners home.
Monash Uni volunteer Nga Man Ivy said she felt grateful that she hadn’t spent her morning at home rather than taking part in the community event.
Team Monash volunteer manager Wayne Dodsworth said the volunteers were a great success.
“Even though it was a cold and rainy morning, the turnout of volunteers was great,” he said.
“I have only heard fantastic feedback on their behaviour and efforts to cheer all our participants through the finishing line.”
A total of $24.3 million has been raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation since the event began in 1998.
Registration for the 2016 run is now open.