As many of you know, breast cancer is something that has deeply impacted my family. My grandma is currently fighting stage 4 cancer that began as breast cancer and has since spread throughout her body. During high school, my mum also went through her own battle. Watching the people closest to me face this has changed how I see the disease and the importance of doing something about it.
In Australia, 1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and over 20,000 Australians are diagnosed every year. It remains one of the most common and devastating cancers in the country, affecting not just individuals but entire families and communities.
That’s why I feel incredibly grateful to be able to do something meaningful. For the second year in a row, I’ll be raising money for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation, an organisation that directs its funding into life-changing research, early detection, and improved treatment options across New South Wales. Their work directly supports better outcomes for patients and gives hope to families going through what mine has experienced.
In particular, the funds raised will be donated to the oncology unit at Moree District Hospital, a place that is very close to my heart as my grandmother received treatment there. In rural NSW, access to healthcare resources and patient-centred care is limited. When I visited last week, there were only two chemotherapy chairs available, which speaks volumes about the challenges these communities face. Moree also serves as a central hub for patients from across regional NSW, meaning travel time, combined with long waiting periods, can turn a single appointment into an all-day commitment. At the same time, rural families are already facing ongoing pressures, including rising fuel costs and the impact of drought on their livelihoods. Supporting this cause is a small but meaningful way to help ease that burden and improve access to essential care.
That's why this year, I’ll be taking it on by running 50km a day for 5 days, across 5 different locations in Sydney. That’s 250km in total, the equivalent of 6 marathons in just 5 days.
Last year, we set the bar high at $44,767. So this year the pressures on.
Every dollar genuinely makes a difference, and I’m incredibly grateful for any support along the way.