Frocking up for a cause close to home

TORQUAY resident Peter Muldoon lost his mother to ovarian cancer less than 18 months ago.

She had been his rock — a fiercely independent woman who raised three children on her own, built a successful career in IT, and spent her life mentoring others through hardship.

“I fell in an absolute hole when Mum died,” Mr Muldoon said.

Before she passed, she left a video messaging urging her family not to dwell in sadness.

“She said ‘Do not grieve me. I’ve lived an amazing life’,” he said.

“I would take all of everything back just for one more hug with her, but I have to honour that a just go ‘Well, this is what she was very much like — pull your socks up high and get out there and do something’.”

 

 

In the spirit of his mother’s resilience, Muldoon will host a fun run at Fishermans Beach — his mother’s favourite place — next weekend to raise critical funds for ovarian cancer research.

The event, which will start at 7.45am on November 1, forms part of the annual Frocktober campaign, a national movement that got its start in Geelong when a group of friends “frocked up” to raise awareness of the disease.

Chronically underfunded, with less than one per cent of the federal government’s medical research funding allocated to the disease, ovarian cancer still has no early detection test.

Instead, symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed, often as symptoms of menopause, and treatment options remain scarce.

It means more than 70 per cent of cases are discovered after the disease has progressed to stages three or four, and less than half of the women and girls diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive beyond five years.

Despite significant advancements in the treatment of diseases such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, this statistic has remained unchanged for 50 years.

Next weekend, Frocktober participants are encouraged to embrace the campaign’s playful spirit and dress up in the cause. Frocks, however, are optional.

 

 

Walkers, runners and riders are all invited to join the 5km loop, which will follow the Torquay Run Club’s weekly route, beginning and ending at Fishermans Beach.

Participants do not need to complete the full distance; they can simply turn up, take part in any way they like or meet everyone for a coffee afterwards at Salty Dog.

There will be prizes on offer and plenty of post-run camaraderie.

“It’s still pretty raw,” Mr Muldoon said. “It’s not even a year and a half yet since losing Mum, but I’m feeling like this will be a fun day, and that’s what I want it to be: just a fun day, excuse to dress up and come together for a good cause.

“I feel like this is, for me anyway, stepping into the light a little bit, especially with my grief.

“I really want to build something for the years to come.”

For more information, to donate or to join the November 1 event, head to frocktober.org.au/fundraise/frocktober-fun-run-torquay