ON May 10 we celebrate our mums and it is also a great opportunity to raise important awareness about breast cancer.
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Organisers of the annual Mother's Day Classic (MDC) in Port Macquarie are encouraging people sign up online for this Sunday's virtual event.
COVID-19 isn't stopping the passion and heart of this year's event with Port Macquarie participants joining thousands throughout the country in an interactive online experience - the MDC Virtual 2020.
One in seven Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and eight women are dying every day from the disease.
The MDC raises vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation's research projects into prevention, early detection, improved treatment options and ultimately a cure. It also offers the opportunity to stand in solidarity with others in the local community who have been directly impacted by breast cancer.
While the traditional local event, the 5km walk or run from Westport Park along the Hastings River to Town Beach and back is not going ahead its usual form, there's still time for community members throughout the Port Macquarie-Hastings and further afield to register for the virtual event - a national collaboration of the traditional 90 MDC events hosted all around Australia.
The MDC Virtual 2020 program includes inspiring content, participants sharing their MDC walks or runs throughout their neighbourhood, backyard workouts, fun photo competitions, fitness video and dancing competitions.
Access to the MDC Virtual Online Portal also provides further fitness and wellbeing workouts, pilates, yoga, a kids' zone with fun activities, cooking videos as well as great competitions with prizes and giveaways.
Participants can choose any 'virtual course' of their liking. Walk or run 4km or 5km or more - outdoors or in your backyard.
Some participants are opting to do this every day in the lead up to Mother's Day, and others will participate on the day, Sunday, May 10. Participants can also track their activity via the online portal using Strava.
The Port Macquarie event is initiated and run 100 pr cent by a team of MDC volunteers and is backed by long-term local business sponsors - major event partner The Westport Club and supporting partners HEM Property, Sovereign Hills Port Macquarie, and Phyx You Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. These local businesses are also doing it tough with the current business and community restrictions.
Volunteer and event organiser, Kylie Bulmer said she is thrilled to see the community come together and paint the town pink - even if it is from their loungerooms.
"The important thing is we're continuing to highlight the breast cancer cause," she said.
"We had big goals for the local physical event this year, and while now it's a little different in 2020, it's still a way to bring our community together and support those with breast cancer. And, it gives us even more reason to have a bigger and better event in 2021."
More information about the Port Macquarie event is available at www.facebook.com/port.mdc, or people can register online at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au
About breast cancer in Australia
- 1 in 7 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- 1 in 675 Australian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- 53 women are diagnosed every day with breast cancer.
- 8 women are dying every single day in Australia from breast cancer and more than 3000 people will lose their lives to breast cancer in 2019.
- National Breast Cancer Foundation's (NBCF) research into breast cancer is the primary beneficiary of the Mother's Day Classic (MDC) and the NBCF receives NO Government funding.
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