NEARLY 14,000 participants in Brisbane’s International Women’s Day Fun Run created a sea of pink along city streets and raised a record breaking $1.5 million for Mater breast cancer treatment and life-saving research.
This year’s event started at South Bank and finishing in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
Funds raised from the event go to Mater Chicks in Pink to provide tangible support services for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment at Mater and help fund life-saving research programs at Mater Research to better understand and treat breast cancer in the future.
Now in its 30th year the fun run continues to grow in popularity, this year the sea of pink not only made waves throughout Brisbane but all of Australia.
For the first time in history the event included a ‘Your Fun Run, Your Way’ virtual component where an additional 3,000 people from all over Australia participated in the event.
Participants were virtually supported on their challenge to enable them to be part of the Fun Run community having a unique and interactive experience on the day.
Executive Director, Mater Foundation Andrew Thomas said that the number of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year has been steadily rising.
“A staggering 19,974 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia in the last year alone which is just heartbreaking,” Mr Thomas said.
“One in four women in Queensland diagnosed with breast cancer will be treated at a Mater facility.
“Funds raised from the RACQ International Women’s Day Fun Run go to the Mater Chicks in Pink who provide tangible support services for people battling breast cancer who are treated at Mater however the majority goes towards breast cancer research.
“Mater Research is on the forefront of breast cancer research in this country, with some of our scientists making remarkable advances while collaborating with prestigious institutions around the world.”
