THIS Mother’s Day, Heather Bogers and her daughter Donna Phillips will be out to make a difference.
They will lace up for the Mother’s Day Classic in Ballarat in hope to create a better future outlook for Donna’s two-year-old daughter Spencer.
“We’re walking to find a cure for cancer, really,” Donna said. “It is looking like breast cancer is in my family and hopefully we can find a cure, especially before my daughter gets to the point where she needs to be concerned.”
Heather and Donna also walk for awareness and remembrance. For friends and family who have or have had breast cancer. Heather was diagnosed in 2004.
Breast cancer awareness has increased greatly since Heather’s diagnosis.
Heather’s journey started when one of her best friends and her sister-in-law were diagnosed within a week of each other. Only in her early 50s at the time, Heather admits she had never really considered getting a breast screening until then. Two years later she was diagnosed with cancer.
“You do think nothing is going to happen to you,” Heather said. “We need to get people to start looking younger and younger. If I didn’t think to get checked, it may have been too late for me...Awareness has come a long way since then. We now need the dollars and research outcomes."
Mother’s Day Classic raises money for breast cancer research endorsed by National Breast Cancer Foundation. The mass-participation movement takes place in almost 100 locations across Australia, from capital cities to tiny towns.
Ballarat will host six and 12-kilometre runs and walks for all ages on Lake Wendouree Parade.
Donna has participated in the event, on and off. This will be Heather’s first Classic but she has been long involved in Relay for Life.
“I hope to really see people getting behind the event. There is a lot of focus on fitness, with the run, but anyone can be involved,” Heather said. “It’s about getting involved. Some people are not comfortable sharing their emotions and this is a way of outwardly showing support for a loved one.”
Mother’s Day Classic is on Sunday, May 8. Details or to sign up, visit mothersdayclassic.com.au.
