Record regional support for Women in Super Mother's Day Classic

MEDIA NOTE: Inspiring breast cancer stories from around Australia are available to the media. Please contact Kathryn Britt on 0414 661 616 to arrange local interviews/photographs.

A record 97 locations will be in the pink around Australia on Sunday May 11 for the Women in Super Mother's Day Classic, Australia's largest breast cancer research fundraiser.

Organisers are delighted with the support from regional Australia in the fight against a disease that impacts one in 8 women.

Registrations are open now: find the regional event nearest you at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au/events and register, volunteer or donate online.

In addition to 11 metropolitan events, this year regional events have grown from 65 to a record 86 - in every state and territory, from Ararat (Vic) to Yamba (NSW), from Karratha (WA) to Weipa (Qld).

In 2013, a record $5 million was raised by 135,000 supporters who took part in the event around Australia.

This year a major milestone will be celebrated - the event, which began in 1998, will pass the $20 million mark in funds it has raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation's research program.

This research has had a real impact on survival statistics and has also helped answer research questions for a range of other cancers. Mother's Day Classic national chair, Louise Davidson, said the support from regional Australia was overwhelming, not only from a fundraising perspective but to show rural and regional women with breast cancer that they were not alone.

"As well as funding research, taking part in Mother's Day Classic is a wonderful way to show support and solidarity to those in the community dealing with breast cancer, so it's important for us to be able to offer events outside of the capital cities.

"Participants will tell you there is something special about the atmosphere at the Mother's Day Classic, whether you attend a huge capital city event or a small community gathering," Ms Davidson said.

Make Mother's Day, May 11 2014, memorable - register and fundraise

Mother's Day Classic is all about raising awareness and honouring those impacted by the disease, as well as funding vital research into treatment, detection and prevention.

"The more funds we raise, the faster a cure can be found. So instead of just registering this year, why not fundraise? Funding research is a great investment in the future," Ms Davidson said.

Major sponsor ME Bank is offering the ME Bank Inspiration Award to fundraisers. Raise $100 or more through online fundraising and you’ll be invited to take part and you could win $5,000 for a person who inspires you and $500 for yourself, in an ME Bank EveryDay Transaction Account with Pink Debit MasterCard*.

Since the event began in 1998, Mother's Day Classic has become the largest funder of National Breast Cancer Foundation research.

In that time, 5 year survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased to 89%.

Despite these advances, on average 7 Australian women die each day from breast cancer. With research, more can be done.

"Mother's Day Classic is a celebration of spirit and hope that together we can contribute to making breast cancer history," Ms Davidson said.

To register, donate or volunteer go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au

For media information, including access to interviews and photographs with a range of newsworthy MDC participants of all ages around Australia, contact:

Kathryn Britt National Media Manager 0414 661 616

 Organised by: Women in Super (WIS) is a national organisation of women working with and for not-for-profit superannuation funds. WIS cares about the health of women as well as their financial wellbeing and in 1998 established Mother’s Day Classic, an event which has become the single largest donor to the NBCF.

Major sponsor: ME Bank has proudly supported the Mother’s Day Classic since 2005. ME Bank also supports the NBCF through its EveryDay Transaction Account with PINK Debit MasterCard™. For every purchase a customer makes using their Pink Card, ME Bank donates 1 cent to support breast cancer research projects.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF): is the leading community-funded organisation in Australia raising money for research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer. Since NBCF was established in 1994, more than $105 million has been awarded to fund 370 research projects to improve the health and wellbeing of those affected by breast cancer. For more information, visit www.nbcf.org.au