In the lead up to the 2019 Mother’s Day Classic, Tessa McKenna raised over $27K for new life-saving breast cancer research projects. After losing her mum to breast cancer in early 2019, Tessa was determined to do anything in her power to raise awareness and funds for research that might save other families from experiencing the same pain.
Every year, the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation hosts a celebration function during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to announce the total donation raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and to celebrate the incredible efforts of those involved. This year, Tessa was crowned as an MDC Classic Champion – an award achieved by those who raise over $25K for vital breast cancer research projects. Tessa joins a special group of MDC Classic Champions who have gone the extra mile for a cause the impacts so many.
“It is an honour to receive the award, we created an incredible team and I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to turn my grief and sadness into honouring the beautiful woman my Mum was and to continue her legacy of fundraising and supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation to save lives and find a cure.”
Tessa’s fundraising achievements wouldn’t be possible without the support of her friends and family. Her nearest and dearest created a fundraising team ‘Sue’s Pink Angels’ as a way of giving back and finding a positive way to remember a special woman. Every member of the team contributed in their own way with several fundraising events hosted within the local community including raffles, pink days and online auctions as well as a ladies long lunch and a wellness morning at the local park. The whole team raised just under $40K for life-saving breast cancer research projects, taking out the award as the top fundraising team in 2019.
The team not only topped the team fundraising charts, but they were also the largest participating friends and family team at the 2019 Mother’s Day Classic Adelaide event. Tessa’s team travelled from regional South Australia and interstate to be in Adelaide on the day to honour a truly amazing woman and to show support for a cause that affects so many Australian families.
The Mother’s Day Classic really wouldn’t be the event it is today without fundraisers such as Tessa who are determined to make a real difference to the lives of women living with breast cancer – now and in the future. The funds raised by Sue’s Pink Angels are now helping Australian scientists diagnose, prevent and treat breast cancer – research that will help us get one step closer to finding a cure.
