The Carman’s Fun Run 2024 presents a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer. As the event approaches, anticipation and excitement are building within communities eager to participate and contribute to this noble cause. The run not only promotes physical well-being but also serves as a powerful platform for fundraising and awareness.
Participants in Carman’s Fun Run 2024 will lace up their running shoes not just for personal fitness goals but to support breast cancer research, awareness programs, and patient care initiatives. The event provides a collective and spirited effort to make a difference, bringing people together under the banner of health, solidarity, and compassion.
On Sunday 18 February thousands of people will converge on Elsternwick Park in Brighton to take their marks for the annual Carman’s Fun Run.
With more than 4,500 people already registered to participate in the 2024 event, it’s expected that 5000-6000 will take to the Bayside suburbs to raise awareness of the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women, breast cancer.
Fundraising has been going on behind the scenes for many months now, with the event raising money to support the important work of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) – Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation. BCNA partners with Sole Motive and Carman’s to bring this fantastic event to Melbourne, which continues to draw a crowd year after year.
“Carman’s Fun Run is about so much more than a run, it’s a win for both those who participate and a win for all Australians affected by breast cancer,” said BCNA CEO Kirsten Pilatti. “In light of this I’d love to encourage everyone to take up this challenge – whether running, walking, or fundraising.”
The streets will begin to get crowded from 7.10am for the start of the 21km half-marathon, followed by the 10km and 5km run events. Finally, the new addition to the lineup is the 5km Pink Lady Walk at 9.30am, in which plenty of keen participants have also registered their dogs. Each event has its own on-stage warm up preceding and cool down post-activity.
“The step you take today can become a hugely rewarding experience for you and an even more meaningful contribution for over 20,000 Australians who are going to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone,” Ms Pilatti said. “This a fabulous community event that I know keeps participants coming back every year.”
Mix with BCNA Ambassadors including Raelene Boyle and AFL/AFLW stars including Hugh Greenwood, Oskar Baker, Sophie Locke, and players from BCNA’s partners Melbourne Football Club (AFLW) and Melbourne Vixens (netball), who will be participating.
Continue the celebrations with friends and family at Elsternwick Park with entertainment, face painting, children’s activities, massage and more. Recharge at food and coffee vendors, browse retail and merchandise stands, and take a quiet moment at BCNA’s Mini-Field of Women tribute.
REGISTER HERE: https://solemotive.com/pages/
The upcoming World’s Greatest Shave is another noteworthy initiative that captures hearts and headlines alike. This iconic event invites individuals to bravely shave their heads or colour their hair to raise funds for vital blood cancer research, support for patients, and public awareness campaigns.
The act of shaving or colouring one’s hair becomes a powerful symbol of solidarity with those affected by blood cancers. Participants in the World’s Greatest Shave demonstrate resilience and empathy, using their hair as a canvas to spark conversations and encourage donations that contribute to the ongoing battle against leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Both Carman’s Fun Run and the World’s Greatest Shave showcase the incredible capacity of communities to come together for the greater good. By participating or supporting these events, individuals not only contribute to the respective causes but also help foster a sense of unity and compassion that extends far beyond the events themselves. As the anticipation builds for these upcoming charitable initiatives, the shared goal remains clear – to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by breast cancer and blood cancers, one step, and one shaved head at a time.
The glorious and sometimes wacky chins, have graced our TV screens, billboards, and newspapers, embodying well-known local and global celebrities and cult figures. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘I’ll be back,’ Bruce McAvaney’s commentating, and ‘Brangelina’s Instachin’, to Chef Manu Feidel lending his ‘magnifique’ chin to the cause in 2016, there have been a large cast of other aspiring and lovable characters.
One of Australia’s favourites was no doubt 5x gold Chinnie award-winning CHNN anchor ‘Bon Rurgundy,’ who, in 2017 helped the Leukaemia Foundation broadcast important updates about World’s Greatest Shave.
But while we enjoy that trip down ‘chinny lane’…that’s all about to change today with the launch of a new era of World’s Greatest Shave.
“The World’s Greatest Shave, as Australians have known it for the past 15 years, is officially bidding farewell to the upside-down chins,” said Chris Tanti, CEO, Leukaemia Foundation.
“This moment in time, marks the end of an era as we sadly say goodbye to the lovable chins, whilst welcoming the dawn of a new, vibrant, bold, contemporary, and more personal campaign to support the growing number of Australians impacted by blood cancer.”
Mr Tanti added that the World’s Greatest Shave is going back to its roots and bringing the Australian community along for the ride with its new slogan, ‘That’s Bloody Beautiful,’ and by featuring real human participants in its advertising and creative direction.
“The new look World’s Greatest Shave celebrates the everyday heroes in our community doing ‘bloody beautiful’ acts of shaving, cutting, colouring, or donating, while helping to make the world less lonely, scary, and difficult for blood cancer patients.
“Every single strand of hair that Australians change this World’s Greatest Shave, whether they chose to shave, cut, or colour, is going to help champion change for the 140,000 Australians living with blood cancer today.”
The World’s Greatest Shave was sadly not immune to the devastating impact of Covid which created the most formidable challenge the campaign has ever faced in its 26-year history.
“When Covid hit, the World’s Greatest Shave which united people in homes, schools, pubs, and clubs across the country suddenly transformed to participants shaving, cutting, and colouring their hair behind closed doors and on digital platforms.
“As a result, our beloved community events were cancelled, and our fundraising took a significant hit impacting the work and support the Leukaemia Foundation provides for the growing number of people in Australia living with blood cancer.
“But we have an ambitious vision – a future where no life is lost to blood cancer – and to achieve this, the new era of World’s Greatest Shave will bring communities back together, and further reflect the deeply personal nature of the campaign,” said Mr Tanti.
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, there are more people diagnosed with blood cancer now than ever before, underscoring the urgent need for increased support, additional resources, and ultimately more funds needed to assist the growing number of Australians impacted.
Mr Tanti added: “With the incidence of blood cancer soaring 47% in the past decade, funds raised through World’s Greatest Shave go towards providing vital support for the 53 Australians diagnosed with the disease each day, as well as funding life-changing blood cancer research.”
Since 2000, the Leukaemia Foundation has funded over 360 blood cancer research grants, representing over $86.5 million in blood cancer research funding in today’s current dollar value.
The funding is helping to make significant strides into finding better and more targeted treatment options for Australians living with blood cancer, with the hope of one day finding a cure.
Around 20,000 people sign up to participate in World’s Greatest Shave each year, and more than two million Australians have sacrificed their hair, or donated to someone who has over the past 25 years.
To be counted in the fight against blood cancer you can register to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave at worldsgreatestshave.com or call 1800 500 088.
Likewise, to see the new World’s Greatest Shave campaign in all its bold, bright and ‘bloody beautiful’ glory, go to worldsgreatestshave.com.
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