Every year, my Mum and I take part in the Mother’s Day Classic. This is a 10km fun run
around Sydney’s CBD to raise awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer.
Last month marked our 12th year and as I trudged around Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, I started
to think about why we initially signed up because one thing’s for sure, it wasn’t for fun… I
hated running.
Back in 2013, I was 16 years old and living what you could call, a pretty normal life. I had
never been directly touched by cancer and I certainly didn’t know too much about it. One of
my mum’s friends had rallied a group of mothers and daughters together to take part in the
Mother’s Day Classic and on that Sunday morning, alongside a crowd of 11 thousand
people, we were taken aback by the emotion of the event.
Many wore personalised t-shirts or signs on their back to outline who they were running for
and why they were there. I will never forget seeing young girls saluting their mums, fathers
pushing prams in support of their late wives or the countless women who had lost their
grandmothers, sisters and aunts. Despite having lost, these people still found joy in coming
together. They were part of something. They were part of a fight against cancer and without
realising it at the time, so were we. This is why we ran. And this was why we came back. Not
because we had lost someone to breast cancer or been diagnosed ourselves but to be part
of something special.
Cancer is a disease that comes in many forms, it doesn’t discriminate and it has the power
to hit anyone. In April 2016, it hit us and my Dad was diagnosed with a stage four
glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with currently no cure.
Every five hours, one person is diagnosed with brain cancer. It kills more children than any
other disease and at 45 years of age, my Dad was given 12 months to live. We got 18 but
sadly, he died in October, 2017.
During this short time, my Dad, Matt Callander spearheaded the NRL’s Beanie for Brain
Cancer Round, an entire weekend of footy dedicated solely to raising much needed funds
and awareness for brain cancer. Having worked at Channel Nine for over 20 years, he knew
the power of the Rugby League community and the great work of the Mark Hughes
Foundation so to him, this was a perfect match.
The equation is simple.
Come to the footy.
Buy a Beanie.
Beat Brain Cancer.
To date, the Mark Hughes Foundation and the NRL’s Beanie for Brain Cancer Round has
sold over 1.2 million beanies and raised over 30 million dollars.
Every year I watch on, almost in disbelief, as players, coaches, rugby league executives,
television personnel, politicians and fans all come together to join the fight against Brain
Cancer.
Today, I can draw a direct parallel to that of the Mother’s Day Classic and the feeling I had in
2013 when I showed up on that Sunday morning amazed by the courage of those who had
been touched by cancer.
In 2024, I may be one of those who have lost but each year, without fail, the NRL’s Beanie
for Brain Cancer Round provides me with the most incredible strength. To see our
community come together is truly remarkable. The images of ‘beanies everywhere’, in the
stands, across broadcast, news bulletins, print media and social platforms brings tears to my
eyes, not only knowing how proud my Dad would be but how good it feels to be part of
something so special.
A lot has changed since that 16 year old girl ran around the city with her Mum but every
year, I’ll still run.
A simple task with the power to make a big difference.
So I’m asking you, every year, to buy a beanie.
To be part of our annual Beanie for Brain Cancer Round.
