Cohuna Secondary College hosted a fun run come fun walk for the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation, on Sunday morning at 9am, along with many other organisations throughout Australia, to raise money for breast cancer research.

This is the first time the event has been run in Cohuna since the Covid response, and they were able to attract more than 50 participants which organisers were very excited about.

The event first started in 1998 and since then has raised more than $47 million for both breast cancer and ovarian cancer research.

Shannon Treacy is a leading teacher at Cohuna Secondary College and leader of Student Voice team and said that each term the students develop ideas on what they would like to do, both in the school and in the community, and this is an event that is close to many people in the community as well as the school.

“The Student Voice Group decided that they wanted to support this, hence why we are running todays event” Mr Treacy said.

“It is a beautiful morning, and it is great to see the support and it is a beautiful track heading out into the bush today, which is something a little bit different.

“Everyone who is participating today, adults and students, have paid an entry, so all money will be going to the research.

“From a school’s point of view, we do it to support a great cause”

Guest speaker for the morning was Tara Whitaker, whose mother died when she was 13 years old from breast cancer when she was a student at Cohuna Secondary College, with Mr Treacy as one of her teachers.

Now a teacher at the school, Ms Whitaker said that she wanted to share with others why the cause everyone was raising money for meant a lot to her.

“My mum, Dianne, was just 36 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, I was three,” she said.

“For many years she fought with strength, courage and love always putting on a brave face even when, I know, it must have been incredibly hard.

“I have such warm memories of the doctors and nurses both here (Cohuna) and in Melbourne who cared for her and ultimately cared for us as well. Their kindness made a lasting difference, and I will always hold that closely.

“Breast cancer doesn’t just affect one person, it touches whole families and the entire community.

“Due to the money raised by fundraisers such as this, the research has come so far, with advancements in early detection, treatment options and support services that are genuinely saving lives.”

Will Kirchhofer and Deacon Wishart were the first across the finish line, completing the run in just 35minutes.

Will said that it felt amazing to be first across the line with Deacon, as they had run together and helped each other through it.

Deacon said that although it was tiring it was very good that he had Will with him as he probably wouldn’t have finished it without him urging him on.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 15 May 2025.