Australia celebrated International Women’s Day today with around 23,000 people wearing pink for a five-kilometre run in Brisbane to support breast cancer research. It’s the largest event for the cause ever held.
The run began in South Brisbane and ended in City Botanical Gardens with participants walking, jogging, or running along the way.
People could also join virtually across the state, bringing the total number of participants to 26,000. Tickets were sold out within a month.
The Mater Foundation has been holding the event for over 33 years to raise funds for breast cancer research.
They partnered with Queensland X-ray this year and raised over nearly 1.8 million Australian dollars (HK$9.3 million).
The money will go toward providing women with high-quality X-ray imaging services.
Kaylah Pearse, one of the event organisers, said she is delighted to see the event grow every year.
“Last year was a smaller show compared to this year. It’s great because fundraisers need more support to carry out more research and provide help for women with breast cancer,” she said.
Connie Glover, one of the participants, said that her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and she has joined the event for four years now.
“I was inspired by my mom. I think it’s important to support more people with similar experiences,” said Glover.
She also added that the funds can help provide women with headscarves after chemotherapy and mastectomy bras after breast removal surgery.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare stated that breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in Australia in 2023. One in seven women in Australia is at risk of breast cancer during their lifetime.
In 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that breast cancer is the seventh-highest cause of death overall and the second leading cause of cancer death for women.
Matt Chilton, a volunteer, has been supporting the event for three years. He encouraged more people to join the event in the future.
“At some point, everyone should do it. The fact that the run gets bigger every year shows how united we are,” he said.
“When there are more people, the more money we get to raise. You don’t have to run or jog or walk, but you should do it,” he continued.
《The Young Reporter》
The Young Reporter (TYR) started as a newspaper in 1969. Today, it is published across multiple media platforms and updated constantly to bring the latest news and analyses to its readers.
HK Red Cross uses technology to raise awareness on climate change
Sham Shui Po' s first Literary Youth Bazaar immerses visitors in local culture
Comments