UC staff walk in memory of their loved ones

6 May: The painful memory of the loss of a loved one to breast cancer has motivated University of Canberra staff to join together in the Mother's Day Classic to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Edwina Oates and Chris Young of the University's marketing team will be joined by more than 40 colleagues, including the Chancellor Professor Ingrid Moses, Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Parker and his wife, Dr Rhian Parker, on Mother's Day, Sunday 10 May, in the 5km walk around Lake Burley Griffin.

Miss Oates was six when her mother Elizabeth died from breast cancer. The disease also took her grandmother, putting Miss Oates at increased risk. Mr Young's mother Rosalind died when he was 17 after a four-year battle with breast cancer.

Miss Oates said Mother's Day is one of the times when she finds it hardest to cope with the loss of her mother, so it was both a fitting tribute and a personal comfort to be taking part in the walk.

"The fact that it's on Mother's Day brings it home. It's a day when we think about our mothers. For me it's a reminder of all the things I've missed, like girlie chats with my mum," Miss Oates said.

"Recently I've been reading her diaries and I feel I'm growing closer to her.

"Research is so important, so I'm pleased to be able to support it. My mother wanted to be part of a research program, but was told she was too far gone."

Mr Young said the event was an opportunity to do something to honour his mother on what would otherwise be a sad day.

"Mother's day is one of those days, like her birthday and the anniversary of her death, that are hardest to deal with. Events like this not only raise money, they get people talking and remind us all about the importance of screening for cancers and that's important," he said.

"Watching mum's condition worsen was distressing at the time and I have to work hard sometimes to remember her before she was sick, but looking back I'm glad I was there at the end and glad we had the opportunity to say goodbye."

Mr Young is studying a law degree at the University and said: "I know my mum was always interested in the law, but she was never encouraged to go to university. I'm about to finish a law degree and my mother is part of the reason I chose to study law."

If you would like to support the University of Canberra team visit:

https://mothersdayclassic.trickytix.coSundaym.au/sponsor/view/1075/edwina-oates