Mother’s Day Classic is an annual fun run and walk series raising funds and awareness in breast cancer research. Started in 1998, Mother’s Day Classic (MDC) has become the biggest fun run and walk event in Australia, held in every state and territory in the country. In total, A$35.3 million has been raised for research in breast cancer prevention and treatment thus far.
Our visit to Darwin coincided with Mother’s Day and MDC event. Since we have always wanted to participate in such events overseas, we signed up for the 4km walk. Participants can select from 4 events: 4km walk, 8km walk, 4km run and Chief Minister’s 8km run. Of these, we chose the easiest.
Darwin MDC 2019 was held at Mindil Beach, with a circular course that took us along the asphalt road of Gilruth Ave and E Point Road, before turning back along the foreshore.
The event commenced at 6am with on-site activities and entertainment; Breastscreen NT doing checks, DJs doing live broadcast and flower wall donated for photo opportunities.
The first flag-off was for 8km run at 7am. By the time our fun walk started at 7.35am, all the serious running was well under way. We collected our race number just before the walk, which took a while. There was no goodie bag or official tee-shirt that came with the registration fees. All we had was our race number and a few safety pins. That is how a charity run should be though, maximise the funds raised towards the worthy cause. Here’s a quick feel of the entry rates, for adult walk it was A$35 for early bird, A$45 standard (what we paid), A$50 last minute (week before event) and A$60 event weekend.
Ended up we missed the flag-off and the Survivor Wave, which is a moment taken to honour and recognise people whose life are touched by breast cancer, though we heard it over the public address system.
The community event was relatively simple and no frills as compared to charity or fun runs in Singapore. Just one professional photographer, no road markers or elaborate setup.
Majority came as families, in pink or some fancy dresses, with the very young ones in strollers or riding their tricycles.
Many participants were wearing the pink official tee-shirt which can be purchased separately at an additional A$35 but we decided to cut cost and wore our own tee instead.
Passed by Darwin’s Middle School before reaching the first km mark.
Midway between the 1km and 2km, the first of two water points. A simple set-up offering cups of cold plain water.
It was largely a walk along the main road till we past the 2km mark. Thereafter we turned towards the foreshore and Fannie Bay.
Fairy Jill, from Fairy Jill’s Enchanted Entertainment, cheering us up along the way.
A coastal walk with view of Fannie Bay. There is a sign indicating there are 1880 million years old sandstone rocks jutting up from the sand, which I believe is at the far right of the Bay and was not obvious in the photographs I took.
After the 3km mark, we walked past the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory before cutting through Darwin Botanic Gardens. Frankly I didn’t see much in the Botanic Gardens other than some signages identifying the species of the trees.
The finishing line, where we were handed a medallion and bottle of cold drinking water.
Thereafter, we took a walk around the event precinct and had a A$2 BBQ Sausage Sizzle by the Chief Minister’s electorate office. Watched the young ones had fun with circus games, face painting and glitter tattoos too.
My first overseas race number and medallion, together with a rose given by my dearest girl for Mother’s Day.
It was fun at the event and for a good cause. If you happen to be in Australia the next time Mother’s Day come by, it is worth considering to take part in Mother’s Day Classic .
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Read about my trip itinerary and the places visited in A Weekend In Darwin .
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