Supporting Breast Cancer Research and Fundraising

My sister, Mary, died in London (UK) on 18^th of January 2012 at the age of 44.

Four years previously, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the best medical advice and care and Mary’s optimism and fighting spirit, she lost the battle with this terrible disease that claimed her life.

Mary’s death has had a devastating impact on my family and I. That impact is also felt by many other people who have been a part of Mary’s life in both Australia and the UK, where she had lived for the past twenty-one years.

Mary’s husband of 17 years, Sam, is now left to raise their two children Ned (aged 5) and Lola (4) by himself. Ned and Lola will grow up without their mother’s love and guidance and at such tender ages, and as time moves on, they are likely to have little memory of their own experiences with their mother.

My parents, Betty and Tony have lost a wonderful, caring daughter and my sisters, Anne and Jill, and I, have lost a very dear, loving sister.

In memory of my sister, my family and I are committed to raising awareness of breast cancer and also to raising funds for breast cancer charities and breast cancer research.

Our current fundraising commitments are:

1. To donate half of my affiliate registration income for Recruiters' Hub Conference (Sydney, 21 and 22 March 2012). Click here to see the full agenda and click here to register. When you register please type ROSS in the CODE box on the payment page so that all the affiliate payments can be accurately tracked and tabulated.

2. My wife, Michelle, has joined a non-profit program, Can Too, that supports fitness training programs and raises money for Cure Cancer Australia. Michelle is raining twice a week with her Can Too team in preparation for the big 14km run on Saturday 19th May 2012 as part of the Great Ocean Road Marathon. Michelle’s goal is to raise over $1,250 for Cure Cancer Australia.

To donate, please visit her fundraising page at Michelle Clennett - Can Too Marathon.

3. Each year my family and I participate in the Mother’s Day Classic, a national walk which is held on Mother’s Day each year, for the purpose of raising money for breast cancer research (The 2011 event raised over $3 million). The Mother's Day Classic home page has a wealth of information about the event and how you can help, even if you are not able to participate on the day. Every capital city in Australia and many regional towns and cities are holding a MDC event. You can find the nearest MDC event to where you live here. To sponsor me, please click here.

More information about breast cancer, breast cancer research and breast cancer fundraising events can be found at the following websites:

Breast Cancer Institute of Australia

Breast Cancer Network Australia

National Breast Cancer Foundation

McGrath Foundation

Pink Ribbon Day

Breast Screen Australia

Mother's Day Classic