The Mother's Day Classic walk or run for breast cancer research was established in 1998 by Women in Super. It started from modest beginnings as a walk in the park and has grown into a major national community event.
Its purpose is to raise money for National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) research programs and awareness of breast cancer in the community.
The founding organisers are Mavis Robertson, National Chair of Women in Super and Louise Davidson, National Chair, Mother’s Day Classic.
The idea for the Mother’s Day Classic came from Mavis Robertson when she saw a similar event overseas. She came back from her trip and spoke to Women in Super about organising an event in Australia.
Three years earlier, Louise Davidson had lost her mother to breast cancer at the age of 52. Louise had cared and supported her mother through her two-year battle with breast cancer. So when Mavis spoke about the event and raising money for breast cancer research, Louise knew that Women in Super could take the idea and make it a reality.
With no experience but lots of enthusiasm and dedication, a Women in Super volunteer committee was established in Melbourne and Sydney and the first event was held in both cities in 1998.
The Mother’s Day Classic ran in Melbourne and Sydney for six years before other capital cities started to join in. Then Women in Super volunteers established Mother’s Day Classic committees with volunteers from the superannuation industry helping to drive participation, sponsorship and promotion in each city. The committees also work with event management companies in the 10 cities across Australia.
The Mother’s Day Classic also works closely with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The money raised by the Mother’s Day Classic supports quality and cutting edge research across Australia.
From the inaugural events in Melbourne and Sydney which attracted approximately 3,200 people the event has now become an integral part of Mother’s Day morning for more than 80,000 Australians who enjoy getting up early to walk or run and raise money for breast cancer research. It has become a morning of activity and entertainment for families, schools, universities, corporate teams, runners and anyone who enjoys sharing activity on Mother’s Day morning. The event also brings together people who are living with breast cancer or know someone who has been affected by, or lost someone to breast cancer. It is a time to remember, pay tribute and celebrate their lives and their strength.
In 2009, the event expanded its reach to new events in the Gold Coast plus 28 new regional events all leading to a record breaking 80,000 participants across Australia and $1.3 million raised for National Breast Cancer Foundation research programs.
Participation in the city events ranges from just under 2,000 in the Gold Coast to 33,000 in Melbourne. Regional events range from 500 to 3,000 people. There are also keen groups around the country, who take part in the Mother’s Day Classic ‘walk in the park’ which involves a group of people getting together for an informal walk in the park on Mother’s Day morning.
In October 2009, Her Excellency, the Governor General, Quentin Bryce, agreed to become patron of the Mother’s Day Classic.
Since 1998, the Mother’s Day Classic has raised $5.7 million for National Breast Cancer Foundation research programs.
In 2010, the Mother’s Day Classic will be held in 10 cities and more than 25 regional locations. From Ararat to Wollongong people can join in and help find a cure for breast cancer research.
The success of the Mother’s Day Classic is due to the hard work and commitment of volunteers across the country who are willing to work together and go the extra mile for a cause that affects so many lives – breast cancer.
