WHILE many mothers will be snuggled up in bed with a cup of tea this Sunday, others will strap on their sports shoes and raise money for breast cancer.
Hundreds of people are expected to flock to the Valley Lake precinct for the Mother’s Day Classic, which is a popular annual fixture in the city.
The nation-wide community-based event not only raises funds for research, but is a community platform to remember, celebrate and honour those touched by breast cancer.
Mount Gambier event organiser Danae Fleetwood urged people to come along to the event no matter what their fitness level.
“Come along and run or walk through mostly trail paths in the Valley Lakes precinct. Participants can walk or run the 2km track and if they want to extend themselves further they can do two, three, four loops of the track,” Ms Fleetwood said.
Speaking to The Border Watch with the Valley Lake as the picturesque backdrop, Ms Fleetwood said the Mount Gambier event had been running since 2013.
“We expect the number of entrants will range from 200 to 300 people, last year we had 250,” she said.
But Ms Fleetwood said this year’s event had already attracted double the number of online registrations.
“It is a great morning and the event is aimed at everyone,” Ms Fleetwood said.
“We attract many multi-generational families including grandparents and grand-kids in their prams – there are no barriers to who can do it. We try and make it inclusive as possible.”
She said there was also a “nice comradeship” among the participants.
“We get a photograph of all the breast cancer survivors so they know they are not the only ones who have gone through it,” Ms Fleetwood said.
The event kicks off at 9.30am and participants are urged to register online, which closes tomorrow.
Ms Fleetwood said people could also register on the day between 8.30am and 9.30am, which will include a $5 surcharge.
“All participants receive a medal and there are lots of goodies to win on the day,” Ms Fleetwood added.
Across Australia, the Mother’s Day Classic raises money for research into breast cancer.
The research is crucial given statistics show one in eight Australian women will be diagnosed by the disease.
For more details visit mothersdayclassic.com.au or its Facebook page Mother’s Day Classic – Mount Gambier.
