A record 20,000 people are set to pound Brisbane’s streets this weekend to support breast cancer research and services after the International Women’s Day Fun Run, presented by National Storage, sold out in just four weeks.
The 5km Brisbane fun run will be held on Sunday 12 March. The city will be flooded by a ‘sea of pink’ as runners, joggers and walkers leave South Brisbane, cross the Story Bridge and end the run in the city’s Botanical Gardens. Across the state, almost 3000 participants have already signed up to take part in the virtual event, with teams running in seven other cities.
Gearing up for the big day are Brisbane breast cancer survivors Susan Murray and her niece Cinnamon Watson, who are passionate about supporting others living with the disease. Mrs Murray underwent a mastectomy at Mater Hospital Brisbane in South Brisbane 10 years ago and is now in remission. Mrs Watson, a Mater Private Hospital Brisbane patient, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, and has undergone a double mastectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy.
Mater Foundation Chief Executive Officer Andrew Thomas said the fun run had been a much-loved event for more than 30 years and had been expanded to allow Queenslanders to participate wherever they live in the state. Participation in the previous 2021 fun run was capped at 13,500 and has now been increased in response to public demand.
“The response from the community this year has been overwhelming,” Mr Thomas said.
“We’re delighted that 20,000 Queenslanders will be joining the sea of pink in Brisbane this year and that so far another 2900 will be running in their own virtual events.
“Please join us and show women with breast cancer that we’re right beside them during their most difficult time.”
Readers also enjoyed our story about Front and Centre 2023
