DEDICATION
In 2009 Brisbane Road Runners Club will honour Kerryn McCann by dedicating “The International Women’s Day Fun Run/Walk 09" to her on 8th March.
Kerryn was the running idol for many……
“She was really highly regarded, more than anyone in the running community - no one had one bad word to say about her.” Kerryn McCann, pictured in July of this year, and inset, after winning the gold medal in the women's marathon at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March 2006 died from cancer at the age of 41 (Picture: Danielle Smith)
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The race of her life…………Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kerryn McCann had secondary cancer in her liver since May. She revealed last year that she had breast cancer while pregnant with her third child. McCann and her husband, Greg, had three children - Benton, 10, Josie, 4, and Cooper, Last year, surgeons removed a cancerous tumor from her breast.
Some of her running colleagues were too upset to speak publicly about her death and running great, Raelene Boyle’s tearfully recounted how she had grown close to McCann and her family during the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, "We had the best time and I'll hold those memories close,'' she said. "Kerryn was a very strong person, very private, quiet - a good mother, loving wife, a really nice ordinary person who had an extraordinary talent to ... run marathons.''
Pat Carroll stated, “Kerryn was a gracious lady with her feet very much on the ground was a dedicated athlete who thrived on the Australian distance running ethos – consistency / focus /consistency / focus. We’ll remember Kerryn for her dual Commonwealth Games Gold medals however her 11th placing in the Sydney Olympics is equally worth noting, as well as her great performances in the big city Marathons.
She loved to represent Australia. The joy that Kerryn exuded after winning in Melbourne and meeting her family track side is a moment in time that encapsulated who Kerryn was "A great Australian distance runner but more importantly, a loving wife and mother. It's real sad. One of life's great knocks!
A wonderful lady and you will always be in our hearts Kerry," he stated.
BENEFICIARY
Brisbane Road Runners International Women's Day Fun Run 2009 is proud to appoint Mater Foundation & Chicks in Pink as their beneficiary.
http://www.chicksinpink.com
Background
As the daughters, granddaughters, sisters, nieces, friends and supporters of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, chicks in pink was originally formed to be a fundraising support to the Mater Breast Care Unit. chicks in pink continue to support the Breast Care Unit and are excited by the opportunity to expand this support out into the wider Mater community to include research and services for the Mater Public Hospital over the coming years.
Mission
Our mission is to raise funds which allow us to have positive, significant & real impact on people who are affected by breast cancer at Mater.
We achieve this through:
- Innovative activities that are fun & educational
- Partnering with like-minded people & organisations
Chicks in pink is an accountable, transparent not-for-profit organisation whose major beneficiary is the Mater Hospital.
Benefits
In consultation with the medical Mater Breast Care Unit Medical Team items of need will be purchased with the funds raised. Purchases will be practical, tangible, and relevant, providing immediate benefit to women with breast cancer.