BIGGEST FUNDRAISING EFFORT IN A DECADE
The Mother's Day Classic (MDC), one of Australia's most cherished national fun runs and walks, has smashed its fundraising record with the largest donation in 10 years – an amazing $3.3 million for breast and ovarian cancer research.
Of the total amount raised, $2.1 million will be donated to fund breast cancer research and $1.2 million to ovarian cancer research, in accordance with the selection of MDC participants.
With proceeds from the 2024 Mother’s Day Classic being donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), and for the first time the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF), this year participants could choose to support and fundraise for breast cancer research, ovarian cancer research, or both.
“We are overjoyed by the remarkable generosity and enthusiasm shown by our passionate participants this year. Seeing our supporters rally together to raise $3.3 million, surpassing last year’s total of $2.55 million, is truly inspiring,” said Zara Lawless, CEO of the Mother’s Day Classic.
“There is still so much to be done when it comes to funding vital breast cancer research and the $2.1 million donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation is another crucial step towards the advancement of life-saving treatments.
"With a further $1.2 million newly allocated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, this year’s achievement is a powerful testament to how we are stronger together. We are striding towards a day where every person diagnosed with either breast or ovarian cancer will be given the assurance that they can survive.”
On Mother’s Day, more than 85,000 Australians gathered in 75 locations across the country, come rain, hail or shine, to support those battling these formidable cancers.
“We knew 2024 was going to be an incredibly special year for the Mother’s Day Classic as we extended our impact to include ovarian cancer research in addition to breast cancer research, however, the response from our community, and the overwhelming feeling of strength, joy, hope and togetherness has exceeded our expectations,” Ms Lawless said.
In 2024, the Mother’s Day Classic saw incredible growth, with both participation and donations up 30 per cent on the previous year.
The Mother’s Day Classic was founded by Women in Super and since the event’s inception in 1998 there have been over 1.7 million participants with a grand total of $47.3 million donated to fund life-saving breast and ovarian cancer research.
Over the last 27 years, the contributions of our supporters have helped increase the five-year relative survival rate of breast cancer patients from 84 per cent to 92 per cent.
This year the Mother’s Day Classic took a monumental step by introducing the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation as a second beneficiary of fundraising, aiming to lift the five-year relative survival rate for ovarian cancer, which stands at just 49 per cent.
"Thank you to everyone who took part on Mother's Day, thank you to everyone who donated this year and thank you to the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation for this generous donation,” said Associate Professor Cleola Anderiesz, CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
“Nine people a day still die from breast cancer in Australia, but powered by the incredible generosity of the community the National Breast Cancer Foundation is able to invest in world-class research that saves lives. Receiving a significant contribution every year from the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation helps to bring us closer to our vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer.”?
“The ovarian cancer community and everyone at the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation are ecstatic about the fundraising results of the 2024 Mother’s Day Classic,” said OCRF CEO, Robin Penty.
“We are proud to have walked shoulder-to-shoulder with the breast cancer community and extend our sincere thanks again to the MDCF and NBCF teams for embracing us in a warm pink hug, which now has sparkles of teal.”
“The Mother’s Day Classic has contributed and achieved so much for breast cancer research, and we look forward to driving a step-change in funds raised and research undertaken to improve survival rates for ovarian cancer too, with the support of this incredible partnership.”
In 2025, MDC welcomes AIA Australia as its new proud Principal Partner.
AIA Australia has been a dedicated supporter of the Mother’s Day Classic since 2018 and the elevation to Principal Partner in 2025 and beyond, highlights AIA’s commitment to helping even more Australians lead healthier, longer, better lives.
CEO of AIA Australia Damien Mu said he was incredibly proud to elevate the business’s seven-year-long collaboration with Mother’s Day Classic.
“By participating in MDC’s efforts to raise funds for breast and ovarian cancer research, we aim to be part of the solution. As a life and health insurer, we understand the impact breast and ovarian cancer can have on Australians. We work hard to provide practical and proven support for cancer prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,” Mu said.
“It’s thanks to the tireless work of not-for-profit organisations such as MDC that we can help lessen the burden of a diagnosis, and work towards further improving treatment options and survival rates for women living with breast and ovarian cancer. We’re thrilled to be MDC’s Principal Partner from next year.”
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, the 28th Mother’s Day Classic will once again inspire and unite the community and deliver another extraordinary result for both breast cancer research and ovarian cancer research.
For further information please contact:
Rebeka Powell
Stamping Ground
rebeka@stampingground.com.au
0459 900 045
Facebook: facebook.com/mothersdayclassicaus
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Founded by: Women In Super 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.
NBCF: 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%. These are remarkable results, but the job is not done. NBCF knows 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.
OCRF: Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) is Australia’s largest independent funder of ovarian cancer medical research. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal women’s cancer with a five-year survival rate that has barely changed in decades, languishing at under 50 per cent. It is also chronically underfunded. Addressing health disparity and funding inequity in cancer research is fundamental to achieving higher survival rates for ovarian cancer. The OCRF is driving a step-change to rewrite this bleak narrative. Our vision is a healthy, vibrant future for all those affected by ovarian cancer, a goal that we are achieving through raising funds, promoting greater awareness, advocacy, and, crucially, investing in high-potential research. All OCRF funds are raised by the Australian community, people who share our vision and are determined to do something to make it a reality. Together, we will overcome ovarian cancer.
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 first-hand 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.
