FORGOING breakfast in bed, superhero mums, families and friends dressed in vibrant pink to “walk all over breast cancer” at the Mother’s Day Classic held at the Valley Lake on Sunday.
Registered participants joined thousands at events nationwide to raise vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, with this year’s local fun run among 87 events across Australia.
“Over 100,000 families across the nation are joining the walk today – that says a lot about how prevalent breast cancer is,” Mount Gambier Mother’s Day Classic committee member Peter Collins said.
“The community support for this year’s event has been fantastic – our sponsors have generously donated prizes and Moreland Holdings donated a $1500 cheque this week.
“Every dollar raised here today will contribute to National Breast Cancer Foundation research.
“The foundation is not government funded at all, so these fundraisers are vital.”
One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life and 48 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
The crowd paused to reflect on the impact of breast cancer during one minute of silence before hearing from this year’s guest speaker Chris O’Callaghan.
“I was very humbled to be asked to speak here today as this is a cause very close to my heart,” he said.
“As a family we have been participating in the walk for 15 years now, both in Melbourne and here in Mount Gambier.
“My beautiful wife and mum to our three children Jane passed away three years ago after a seven year battle with breast cancer.”
Mr O’Callaghan said Jane discovered a lump in her left breast and promptly visited her doctor.
A second biopsy revealed the lump was cancerous and within two days the young family was in Adelaide discussing treatment options.
The cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes.
“She was 33 years old at that stage – our world had stopped and we were quite numb,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“During her cancer journey, she showed incredible strength and never once complained.”
He said despite ongoing treatment over the next few years, tumors spread to her lungs and eventually to her brain.
“Jane passed away in 2015 – she had just turned 40,” he said.
“She was amazing at connecting with people – when we moved here in 2007 we knew no one at all, but Jane made a great network of friends within a couple of months.
“We cannot thank the Mount Gambier community enough for their support – we live our lives every day for Jane.
“No one ever knows this is coming and it could happen to anyone of us – the tests and scans are there for a reason, if you ever do find a lump, get to a doctor as soon as possible.
“This is not always an easy event for people to come to, but this is a very important fundraiser.”
Since the inaugural Mother’s Day Classic 21 years ago, five-year survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased to 90pc.
