REBECCA Koroneos is calling out for help to ensure the shores of Lake Wendouree are awash with pink for the Mother's Day Classic once more.
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This comes one year after the popular Ballarat event almost stopped running due to a lack of community-based event organisers.
Ms Koroneos stepped up to lead the committee last year but was on the look-out for more volunteers, on event day and on the committee, to help running smoothly.
"I took on the event because I couldn't bear to see it stopped when for a lot of community members this is a memorial walk for a family member or loved one," Ms Koroneos said. "As a teacher, my personal interest comes from student going through chemo(therapy) and cancer - either themselves or family...I wanted to keep the event going strong, keep it growing larger in Ballarat and support the whole community."
About 600 people got pinked-up to walk or run the Ballarat Mother's Day Classic last year (click HERE for photos), raising $22,000 as part of the $2.1 million national effort towards breast cancer research and awareness.
Ballarat is preparing to host its 11th consecutive Classic by the lake.
Classic events held across the nation have raised more than $35 million for National Breast Cancer Foundation programs the past two decades. In this time, the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer has increased from 76 to 91 per cent.
Mother's Day Classic Foundation chief executive officer Sharon Morris said regional events were pivotal in helping the national effort.
Some of our most successful years have been driven by the great support we receive from our regional events like the Ballarat MDC.
- Mother's Day Classic Foundation chief executive officer Sharon Morris
"And I expect this year to be no different, our regional events are organised and executed by some of our most passionate volunteers," Ms Morris said.
"Every year we are inspired by the people who take up the opportunity to make a difference and support those diagnosed with breast cancer. We want to make Mother's Day mean more to all those women and their families, friends and colleagues to empower their lives with positive outcomes."
Ballarat Mother's Day Classic is on Sunday, May 12. The event starts on Windmill Drive, opposite the adventure playground, and the course moves anti-clockwise around the lake. Participants in the six-kilometre run and walk events do one lap, those in the 12km run do two.
To volunteer, email mdcballarat@gmail.com or visit the Ballarat Mother's Day Classic public group on Facebook.
For more details: mothersdayclassic.com.au.
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