Thursday 20 February, 2025
Mother's Day Classic aims for another record breaker to boost women's health and save lives uniting for breast and ovarian cancer research.
Australia’s most loved national fun run and walk, the Mother’s Day Classic (MDC), is primed for another record-breaking year, with organisers announcing a renewed commitment to funding research to reduce deaths and improve survival for breast and ovarian cancer.
Launching the 2025 Classic, Mother’s Day Classic Foundation (MDCF) CEO Zara Lawless welcomed new principal partner, AIA Australia, and an upswing in early event registrations, particularly in regional areas, which points to more than 90 locations hosting runs/walks nationally on Sunday, May 11.
Last Mother’s Day, more than 85,000 Australians gathered for the Classic in 75 locations nationally. Those numbers are on track to be exceeded in 2025 with early registrations at record levels.
Ms Lawless said the 28th Mother’s Day Classic, founded by Women in Super, will build on the relationship with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), which joined longstanding beneficiary National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) as part of an extended MDC family in 2024.
“The strength of togetherness was on full display last year, as the Mother’s Day Classic celebrated the addition of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation while retaining our commitment to the National Breast Cancer Foundation – with incredible lifesaving results,” Ms Lawless said.
“Events like the Mother’s Day Classic and the public support of medical research have facilitated a significant improvement in survival rates for more than 21,000 Australians diagnosed each year with breast cancer.
“The MDC community has shown that it can and wants to strive for more, to also improve the outcomes for women with ovarian cancer, a disease for which there is still no early detection test.
“To that end, we also welcome the generous support of our new principal partner, life and health insurer AIA Australia, through a three-year commitment. As a long-term supporter of the Mother’s Day Classic, AIA’s elevated partnership will further assist MDCF in supporting medical research, elevating women’s health, preventing deaths from breast cancer and improving the survival outcomes for ovarian cancer.”
In 2024, the fundraising total of $3.3 million represented a jump of 30 per cent on the previous year and was the biggest in a decade. Mother’s Day Classic participants were given the choice to fundraise for breast cancer research, ovarian cancer research, or both.
“We believe this marks a crucial milestone in transforming the landscape of ovarian cancer research—driving increased funding, improving survival rates, and raising vital awareness within the community about the importance of research.’’
Every day in Australia 63 people are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Every day 12 people die from those two diseases. The MDC provides not only the hope that the day will come when no more lives will be taken, but the means to help fast-track that outcome.
The MDC is the largest donor to NBCF, having donated more than $46.1 million over the past 27 years, contributing around 20% of NBCF’s total research grant funding throughout that period. In that time the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by 35%.
Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO, said:
“We eagerly look forward to the 2025 Mother’s Day Classic and the potential breakthroughs in breast cancer and ovarian cancer research that will be made possible through the generous funds raised from this event.”
“Together we can make our shared vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer possible.”Robin Penty, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation CEO, said:
“The Mother’s Day Classic is a testament to the power of community to make a huge difference in the lives of everyone affected by ovarian or breast cancer. Because of this generous 2024 donation, the OCRF will be announcing grants for more research projects than ever before in 2025.“And we’re going even bigger this year, as we strive to grow the number of local events, participation, and funds raised for women’s health and futures. Bring it on!”
- Every day in Australia 63 people are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer
- Every day 12 people die from those two diseases.
- More than 3,300 people die from breast cancer each year
- Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer, claiming over 1,000 Australian lives annually.
- Less than half (49 per cent) of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive five years after diagnosis.
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in Australia and nine Australians die from it every single day.. Every death is one too many.
- MDCF has funded 85+ research projects in the past 27 years
- The Mother’s Day Classic has donated $47.3 million to fund life-saving breast and ovarian cancer research
- More than 1.7 million participants have taken part in the Mother’s Day Classic
- In 2024, the fundraising total of $3.3 million represented a jump of 30 per cent on the previous year and was the biggest in a decade.
- In 2024, of $3.3 million raised by the MDCF $2.1 million was donated to NBCF and $1.2 million to OCRF. Registrations are now open for the 28th Mother’s Day Classic at mothersdayclassic.com.au.
Participants can save up to 34% with Super Early Bird pricing, plus for a short time only “Kids Go Free” *^
Facebook: facebook.com/mothersdayclassicaus
Instagram: instagram.com/mothersdayclassicaus/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mother's-day-classic/
X: twitter.com/MDC_walk_run
Hashtags: #mothersdayclassic #mdc2025
Founded by: Women in Super (WIS) is an industry body that advocates for superannuation policies to improve women’s economic security. WIS is also a national member organisation consisting of women working within the superannuation and related financial services industries, who, in 1998 established the Mother’s Day Classic, to raise money in the hopes that finding a cure for breast cancer would mean more women would live long enough to access their superannuation. In 2024, WIS, is proud to support the Mother’s Day Classic in expanding its impact to include ovarian cancer research.
Established in 2000, The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) is Australia’s leading independent funder of ovarian cancer research, dedicated to transforming outcomes for the most lethal gynaecological cancer.
In Australia, fewer than 50 percent of women and girls diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive more than five years - a figure unchanged for decades, highlighting disparities and gender inequities in research and care that demand urgent action.
The OCRF is rewriting this story. Their vision is a future where those impacted by ovarian cancer can live healthy, vital lives. To achieve this, they are catalysing change and accelerating progress by increasing awareness, advocating for greater investment and equity, collaborating nationally and internationally, and strategically funding high-impact medical research.
Every dollar the OCRF raises comes from the Australian community, driven by a shared determination to make their vision a reality.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia's leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research towards their vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer. Since their inception in 1994, NBCF has invested over $200 million into more than 600 world-class research projects across Australia. In this time, the death rate from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by over 40%. They've seen remarkable results, but the job's not done. NBCF is determined to create a better tomorrow. They know research matters, and it is central and critical to improving breast cancer outcomes. That’s why they fund the very best breast cancer research in Australia by awarding grants via an open national, competitive and rigorous peer review process.
Proud Principal Partner – AIA Australia: AIA Australia’s purpose is to make a difference in people’s lives. As a leading life, health and wellbeing insurer, AIA Australia sees firsthand the devastating impact that breast and ovarian cancers have on the lives of Australians and has raised almost $200,000 to support the Mother’s Day Classic since 2018.
*Super Early Bird Terms and Conditions: VIP discount offer ends 11.59pm (ADST) on Sunday 2 March 2025. Save up to 34% off compared with on the day ticket pricing. Savings vary based on registration type and event location. Discount applied automatically. No promo code needed.
^Kids Free Terms and Conditions: Kids Free offer ends 11.59pm (ADST) on Sunday 2 March 2025. Receive up to two free Child (12 and under) registrations with each paid adult or concession in one transaction. Discount applied automatically. No promo code needed. $156 saving is based on cost of 2 adults and two children using on the day pricing. Savings vary based on registration type and event location.
