The Australia women's national field hockey team, known as the Hockeyroos, are preparing to paint the town pink as they continue their advocacy for breast and ovarian cancer research by participating in Australia's largest charity fun run.
Since 1998, the Mothers Day Classic fun run has been dedicated to fundraising for breast and ovarian cancer research. Thanks to ongoing research, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer has increased from 84 per cent to 92 per cent since the charity started.
Despite a looming World Cup campaign, Hockeyroos players Tatum Stewart and Amy Lawton say their advocacy work remains non-negotiable. The pair have proudly supported the cause for the past three years.
"We want to normalise safe environments to ask questions and open the conversation about cancer," Lawton said. "And if we can help encourage that in communities, whether that's grassroots hockey, other sporting teams, or just women in general, I think we're doing our job," Stewart added.
For Stewart, this advocacy is particularly important. Her mother, Kath, was diagnosed with cancer when Stewart was just 13 years old.
"I think it honestly was one of the hardest things that I've ever gone through. I was made aware of the importance of women's health from such a young age... it was almost confronting," she said. "I saw my mum be so brave and courageous through that whole ordeal... she did everything she could to make sure that our family still functioned exactly the same way, and there's so many other women out there doing the exact same right now."
Since her mother's full recovery, Stewart has made a commitment to not take anything for granted, channelling that resilience into her own elite sport. "You never know what's around the corner, so I like to love loudly and remain grateful," she said.
Lawton describes the Mothers Day Classic as a way to connect with mothers from all over the country. "I am, and a lot of us are from interstate, so we don't get to spend Mother's Day with our mum... this is kind of a different way we can give back to mums," she said.
While the Hockeyroos have a team fundraising profile, where they have raised more than $1,000, Stewart and Lawton say midfielder Greta Hayes has become quite competitive with the crowdfunding. "Greta rolled into training yesterday and was like, 'I've raised the most money'," the pair laughed. "We've always got this competitive itch in the back of our heads, so we're like, come on, let's go."
Every day in Australia, 61 people are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, and 12 people pass away from it. In the last 28 years, the charity has donated $50.8 million to research foundations.
