MOTHER'S DAY CLASSIC: Laura, Alicia and Elliot Smith with their dogs. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUN: Michelle Gray, Kim Keating, Erin Robinson, Katriona Hunt, Yvonne Allen, Carlie O'Meley. Photo: Max Mason-HubersIN STYLE: Diane O'Brien and Dianne Hansen wave to the crowd as they finish their run. Photo: Max Mason-Hubers
FUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Sarah Mottram and her daughter Georgia, 6, at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersWALK FOR A CAUSE: Laura, Alicia and Elliot Smith with their dogs Rollo, Zoe and Duggee. Photo: Max Mason-HubersIN STYLE: Diane O'Brien and Dianne Hansen wave to the crowd as they finish their run at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFAMILY TIME: Adam Macdonald and his kids Isabel and William at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: Max Mason-HubersSWEET TREAT: Georgia Mottram, 6, walks with her breakfast cupcake in one hand and her mum Sarah's hand in the other. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersIN STYLE: Dianne Hansen and Diane O'Brien wave to the crowd as they finish their run at the Mother's Day Classic. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-HubersFUNDRAISER: Almost 400 people, and pets, walked or ran to raise funds for breast cancer support at the Mother's Day Classic at Carrington on Sunday. Photo: Max Mason-Hubers
A BREAST cancer diagnosis changes the lives of not only the person battling it, but the support systems around them.
Those supports were out in force on Sunday - at the first Mother's Day Classic walk, or run, in Newcastle since 2018.
The last 12 months have been scary for Laura Smith, diagnosed with breast cancer after her husband discovered a lump.
"My husband rolled over to give me a hug in bed, he hugged under my arm and he felt it," she said.
"So I went straight to the doctors the next day, and then I was having the scan on the Wednesday - the following week I had biopsies, and then surgery, chemo and radiation.
"It was really scary and stressful with my family in the UK, it's just us five, but the kids and my husband have been really brilliant and there's lots of support out there."
Walking around Carrington on Sunday with her was her son Elliot and her daughter, Alicia.
Both were happy to be spending Mother's Day with one of the most special people in their lives, and helping raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation.
"It was hard to see her go through it, she's such a strong person so it was hard to watch her be brought down by it but she's getting better now and doing well," Alicia said.
The event is entirely volunteer-run, by people like Amy Davidson - who was keen to see the event relaunch locally.
"Coming into the event we had raised over $25,000, so I'm hoping we have smashed that with today, everyone has been super generous contributing to the cause," she said.
"Everyone is quite connected to the cause in one way or another, whether it's family or individuals themselves and we've heard some harrowing stories around the community today - we've also got a number of people who have put their tributes up on the wall for people they are walking for today that we may have lost.
"So it's a sombre reflection at times and we've had a few minutes silence for those people but that's why we're here - so families and individuals in the future don't have to go through those things."
Almost 400 people turned up, and organisers hope to continue to raise much-needed funds for the one in seven women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
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