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Introducing our 2016 City2Surf Ambassador!

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We’re excited to announce our first ever Team ACRF City2Surf Ambassador, Jessica Broome.

Jess is an incredibly positive young woman with a close connection to cancer research. We are honoured to have her join us this year as our Ambassador.

The last time Jess ran with Team ACRF was in 2014. Her Dad had been diagnosed with cancer eight years earlier, and she ran in support of his journey. After crossing the finish line, having raised over $1,600 for cancer research, she celebrated with a toast to her Dad.

This year Jess will be running again.

“I’m passionate about cancer research because I lost my Dad to cancer in April this year.

A month before we lost him, I watched him walk up the hospital hallway and achieve the massive goal he had been working towards with his physio team. It seemed impossible to most of us, but he was always determined to get better.

He was a fighter, not just as a fireman, but in the way he refused to give up.

We were fortunate that he qualified for numerous medical trials which managed to get him through each year. For ten years they kept coming back with something new, like a magic trick that the researchers would pull out of a hat.

Each new trial medication that came around, he would give it a go – no matter what. There were many years where we thought to ourselves: ‘This is it. This is the last Christmas, this is the last father’s day’…but it never was.

Thanks to those trials our family was able to spend more precious time with him, which meant so much to us.

ACRF, Australian Cancer Research Foundation, cancer charity, cancer fundraising, cancer fun run, Cancer Research, cancer research fundraising, Cancer Research Grants, cancer scientists, Challenge, charity challenge, charity foundation, City2Surf, current cancer research, donate to charity, Fighting cancer, Funding research, fun run, Fundraiser, fundraising, Fundraising Stories, give to charity, marathon, Running for Cancer Research, SydneyDad loved to travel, so we were able to get in some extra holidays together. He also had the chance to ensure his family, including his now 94-year-old Mum, would be okay. We even managed to squeeze in a few more parties with him!

Mum and I were playing all his favourite songs on his last day, one of those songs was Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett. We were dancing around his bed like mad women.They say that hearing is the last thing to go, so I just know this would have made him happy.

He suffered many different cancers over the last ten years, but it was brain cancer that took him in the end. I feel that was the worst for him to go through. I’d really like to see a trial medication to treat this, other than steroids and pain killers. I know researchers are going to get there in time.

This is why I have decided to participate in this year’s City2Surf for cancer research. It’s a great way to support a great cause.

I’m not the best runner, but I really enjoy it. I think it will probably be quite a challenge as I haven’t been running for quite a while. My Dad was always telling me to get back into it, so now I’m doing it!

I think he would really love that I’m getting involved. He always liked to make sure he thanked people when they helped him. So this is my thank you on his behalf.

I’ll know I’ll probably cry through the finish line, but afterwards, I plan to throw one hell of a party! That’s how he would do it!” Jessica Broome ACRF City2Surf Ambassador

 

 

 

Over $117,000 raised for cancer research at City2Surf

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This past weekend over 80 thousand people participated in the iconic 14 kilometre City2Surf. Runners set off from Hyde Park in the heart of Sydney’s CBD and made their way through to the finish line at Bondi Beach.

This year, Team ACRF was made up of 190 incredible runners from all walks of life. Thanks to their hard work and dedication they were able to raise over $117k for cancer research.

Many of the ACRF runners have been personally affected by cancer, including Jonathan Wiener, who had an army of supporters contribute an astounding $20,000 in memory of his cousin Michelle, who lost her battle with brain cancer in February.

“I promised Michelle that I would do everything in my power to find a cure for this devastating disease and running City2Surf for cancer research is my first step in keeping that promise.”

Supporting them along the way were 35 enthusiastic volunteers who cheered on Team ACRF and doled out high-fives from the sidelines.

One of ACRF’s Corporate Champions, Deloitte, generously sponsored a fantastic beach front Marquee where ACRF runners and their families joined the Deloitte team for a congratulatory lunch on the beach.

The ACRF thanks everyone who participated in the City2Surf or who came out to support our runners on the day. We loved meeting you all and celebrating your achievement.

View the team leaderboard – click here.

Where one daughter leads, her mother follows – an inspiring distance runner shares her story

Professor Anne Boyd, marathon runner, fun runs, run for cancer research, cancer charity, charity foundation, fighting cancer, online fundraising, charity volunteer, city2surf, chairity challenge, cancer, fitness

“I truly believe we will beat cancer, possibly in my lifetime.” – Professor Anne Boyd.

Professor Boyd is 69 years young and discovered her passion for distance running only a few short years ago. This has led her to not only become a great advocate for cancer research, raising both funds and awareness, but it has also led her to win the Sydney Striders F65-69 Marathon trophy and become the Southern Highlands Challenge poster girl!

Her love affair with running began back in 2013, when she decided that, in celebration of her 67th Birthday, she would compete in her first 5K run at the Australian Running Festival in Canberra.

Two years later, she has become a dedicated running enthusiast and has completed a number of challenging races including City2Surf, four Half Marathons, the Melbourne Marathon and numerous other competitive10Ks.

“I’ve loved every step, even the more painful ones. I enjoy mid-race conversations with other runners and play up photo opportunities! A camera is always worth a grin and a grin helps deal with any fatigue issues which might be building up. Although there is real pleasure in achieving a personal best, my only important aim in a run is to finish,” says Anne.

Anne sees the sport as a really great way to raise funds for a cause that touches all our lives.

“I am personally so grateful for advances in cancer research. I’ve had tests detect precancerous polyps, which I had removed, and a recent breast scan that detected a small lump which was quickly determined not to be of any danger. These advances, of course, are bought about through the research that has made such great strides in my lifetime. But it needs everyone’s support, so I’m really happy that I can do my part and run for this cause.”

Anne’s daughter, Helen Louise is a huge supporter of her mum’s new found hobby and has been a great source of inspiration and encouragement to her since the beginning. As a distance runner herself, she became her mum’s go-to for knowledge on all things running and even ran alongside Anne in her very first race, helping her to achieve third place in her age division.

“My darling daughter ran with me as a warm-up for her serious event the next day and was rewarded with considerable grumpiness from her hot and bothered mother during the final kilometres! But to finish was a joy! She has played a key role in my new found passion, so now, where she leads, I follow.”

To support Anne at this year’s City to Surf, click here.

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Chris runs a marathon of marathons to support those fighting cancer

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Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Australia with an estimated 43,700 people succumbing to it each year.*

So what can one person do help so many who are fighting cancer?

Adelaide local, Chris Glacken answers with “anything and everything you can,” and has challenged himself to run 24 marathons in 24 months to help raise funds for cancer research.

Several of Chris’ close friends and family members, including his father, have been recently diagnosed with cancer. This motivated him to find a way to join in their battle against this terrible disease.

His mission now, for his 24 marathon conquest, is to have the “courage to start, strength to endure, and resolve to finish”.

“This may be a tough and expensive gig but the satisfaction gained from having a go at raising much needed funds for the ACRF makes it all worthwhile,” says Chris.

This adventure is just one of many fundraising efforts that he and his wife Grace have organised over the years, raising around $4,200. His target for marathon donations this year is $15,000. And if he reaches his target, Chris, his wife, and their incredible supporters will have contributed a whopping $20,000.00 in just a few years: fighting cancer through research.

Chris began his marathon of marathons last year at the Cadbury Hobart Marathon in January and will continue to participate in races across the country with his final race ending in Portland, Victoria in November 2015.

His every step is helping cancer scientists get closer to preventing, diagnosing and finding a cure for cancer, so we encourage anyone and everyone to cheer him on!

To follow him on his journey or to donate click here.

* https://acrf.com.au/on-cancer/cancer-statistics-australia/ (2015)

 

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Experience the rainbow with this cancer fun run!

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to become more active, healthier or fitter? Why not kick start your 2014, and your resolution, with a cancer fun run with a difference?

Color Me Rad is a 5km cancer fun run where participants are showered in colour as they race towards the finish line!

Color Me Rad has announced its inaugural Australian race on February 23 at Sydney’s Motor Sport Park out at Eastern Creek. In this un-timed event, the focus is purely on fun, and the fitness is an added bonus! What better way to kick off a health and fitness goal?

Continue reading “Experience the rainbow with this cancer fun run!”