Get fit and make a difference for breast cancer on Mother’s Day

Australia is gearing up for the nation’s biggest charity fun run, the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, a walk and run to show support and raise funds for breast cancer research.

The event is a popular one with runners and fitness groups, offering a chance to put fitness goals into practice for a great cause.

Mother's Day Classic CEO Sharon Morris said participants appreciated the option to walk or run different distances (usually 4km and 8km distances are offered).

Ms Morris highlighted the fact that recent results from the National Runners’ and Walkers’ Health Studies in America have found regular exercise potentially lowers the risk of all women dying from breast cancer by more than 40 per cent.

Researcher Paul Williams, at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in Berkeley California, followed 79,124 women over 11 years to investigate breast cancer mortality.

Women who met the regular weekly exercise recommendations of at least 11.3km of brisk walking or 7.6km of running were at 41.5% lower risk of breast cancer mortality compared to those who did not meet the recommendations.

For women already dealing with breast cancer, research funded by the National Breast Cancer Foundation has indicated that physical activity also plays a big role in recovery from breast cancer and has the potential to effect a woman’s quality of life.

So what better reasons do you need to join in with more than 135,000 other Australians for a run on Sunday May 11?

Ms Morris believes Mother’s Day Classic is a key driver in Australia to get women into running.

"Mother’s Day Classic, more than any other event, motivates women to move from walking, to a casual fun run, to running as a hobby and for fitness," Ms Morris said.

In 2013, more than 135,000 Australians took part in the national event last year at 74 locations around Australia including a landmark 63 regional events - raising a record $5 million.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women (1% of breast cancer is in men). On average 42 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer each day.

Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic is Australia’s largest funder of National Breast Cancer Foundation research. Since the event was initiated in 1998, five year survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased to 89% and a cumulative total of $19.8 million has been raised for essential research. But there is still more to do.

So why not get your joggers ready, celebrate Mother’s Day and help make breast cancer history.

To register, donate or for more information on your closest event go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au