Wave of pink for Mother’s Day Classic

MORE than 2,000 participants came together at Eastern Park last Sunday (May 12) for the Mother’s Day Classic.

Dressed in pink, runners and walkers spent the morning raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation in a bid to find a cure for the diseases.

Geelong Mother’s Day Classic Committee Member Sophie Harris said it was a beautiful day raising money and honouring those who are no longer here.

“Everybody from across our region and across all areas came together to celebrate not just mothers, but celebrate every woman, whether we are mothers or not.

“To me, it’s about honouring women’s lives and caring for each other and supporting each other as a community.

74 Mother’s Day Classic events took place across the country with more than 80,000 people taking part.

Participants completed four-kilometre and eight-kilometre courses with the choice of running or walking, the event also included an embrace and honour walk for those who have been touched by cancer.

Throughout the day guest speakers took the stage sharing their stories and creating awareness.

One woman’s story moved the audience as she shared being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August last year and is now terminal, urging women to be conscious of their symptoms.

This particular story was one that stood out to event MC Paula Kontelj.

“That was really impactful, I think you could have heard a pin drop in that park as every woman was so engaged and staring at this woman intently.

“It gave a message that I think women needed to hear, and she might have saved some lives on Sunday because somebody might go home and explore something with their doctor that they would have otherwise ignored.”

Since the Mother’s Day Classic started in 1998, they have raised over $44 million for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, with the 2024 event being the first year the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation was included.

Donations to the Mother’s Day Classic can be made until June 30 by visiting mothersdayclassic.com.au