10. Raising Money for Breast Cancer Research
Just after I was diagnosed, my daughter entered herself and her fiancé in the Mother’s Day Classic. She also entered her brother and his girlfriend. She chose the 8km run. I was touched and impressed. She knows how important this event is to me personally and now it has a whole other layer of meaning for us all. This event is held around Australia, on Mother’s Day, to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research I ran the first, event, in 1998 with my son. I ran another one for a friend’s sister in law who had cancer. I ran the last two with my daughter.
I decided to enter the 4 km walk. I wish I could run, but I know that will be impossible this year. I started a fundraisers page and then ‘announced’ my breast cancer on Facebook by posting a link to my page and saying that I had become one of the ‘1 in 9’ diagnosed with breast cancer and will be fundraising for this worthy and personal cause. I’m stunned at the response. People donate generously and I watched my tally climb. I think if I can raise $1000 I will be delighted. A friend in the triathlon community posted a link to my page on a triathlon Facebook page I am part of. I’m a bit embarrassed, but then decided I wasn’t forcing anyone to give money.
I was blown away when a triathlete from New South Wales donated $100. I have never met Cameron, but heard he is a lovely guy. Others I haven’t met made donations. When my total got to $1880 I posted on Facebook ‘I wonder if I can make it to $2000?’ A friend donated $120! While we were away in Noosa I receive emails telling me of more donations. I was nearly in tears as I saw and felt people’s generosity and support.
My competitive nature appeared and I found myself checking where I was on the top fundraisers list. I was in the top 25, then climbed to 19th, then 12th. A few days before the event my total raised reached $2,370. Others were furiously fundraising too and I end up at 22nd overall. Pretty good from around 41,567 people. I couldn’t help myself and I worked out that some of those ahead of me were teams, so I decided I was 11th overall individual fundraiser. It was all a bit of fun. For a very serious cause.
My friend Helen asked if there was anything she could do for me. As she’s a runner, I asked her to do the Mothers Day Classic. She was delighted. She signed up her husband and daughter.
I was so pleased I would be able to walk the event, 9 days after my surgery. I was determined to. But it wouldn’t just be for me. I would also be thinking of my fellow women who are going through cancer, or treatment, or would be walking for those they have lost to cancer.