THE team at Mater Private Hospital Redland are gearing up for the an International Women's Day fun run in support of a team member diagnosed with cancer last year.
Staff members will don bright pink tees and run through the streets of Brisbane to raise funds to support people impacted by breast cancer.
For the team at Mater Redland, this year will be particularly special as they will be running with their volunteer co-ordinator Wendy Moore who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
"I was diagnosed with stage-two breast cancer on February 20, 2019. It was a complete whirlwind and I was in total shock," Ms Moore said.
"My mother died of ovarian cancer so I had annual mammograms to make sure anything untoward would be picked up and I'm so glad I did.
"The turnaround for my treatment was very quick, I was able to get in for surgery two days later to have the lump removed, and then I started radiation therapy. Fortunately I did not need to have chemotherapy."
Ms Moore had six months off work to recuperate but is now back at Mater Redland.
"Throughout my whole journey with cancer I was always treated with dignity, respect and compassion, the staff, management and the Mater Chicks in Pink were so supportive," she said.
The fun run is in its 29th year and continues to grow in popularity as 13,500 people in a sea of pink move through Brisbane city aiming to raise $750,000 support services and life-saving breast cancer research.
This year the fun run falls on Ms Moore's 60th birthday on Sunday, March 8 and she will be walking the six kilometre track with her friends, family and Mater Redland team members to honour her journey.
Mater Foundation executive director philanthropy Lesley Ray said registrations for the fun run are already exceeding expectations.
"We have already had nearly 12,000 people sign on for this event in the few short days since opening registrations so I encourage everybody to jump on the website and register as we know this even will sell out," Ms Ray said.
"This year for the fun run will be held on International Women's Day and it is truly is a celebration of women and supporting women, raising funds to support breast cancer research and treatment of women right here in Brisbane."
Funds raised from the fun run will go directly to the Mater Chicks in Pink who support patients being treated for breast cancer at Mater South Brisbane, Springfield and Redland Hospital plus funding world-class research into the disease.
Mater Private Hospital Redland has a cancer care centre with nine treatment chairs, rehabilitation gym and access to expert clinicians.
Register for the fun run at fundraise.mater.org.au/event/iwdfr/ or donate to Ms Moore's fundraising page at fundraise.mater.org.au/fundraisers/WendysAbFabFamilyandFriends.
