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10km for a cure!

By Mandy Hanna

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$5,021

My Goal

$2,000

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I'm getting active and setting myself a challenge to raise money for NBCF and world-class breast cancer research. 

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia’s leading national body funding game-changing breast cancer research with money raised entirely by the Australian public.

I believe research is the best way to prevent deaths, and improve how breast cancer is diagnosed, managed and treated. 

Click 'Donate' to make a secure online donation and help me reach my goal. Every donation, big or small, will help me get there. Please donate today.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and you will be issued with a tax-deductible receipt via email as soon as you make your donation.

Thank you so much for your support!

Event Information

Sunday 18th April

My Updates

During a chemo session.

Sunday 11th Apr

10KM run for a cure!

Friday 19th Mar
I’m Mandy and I am currently a cancer fighter...... soon to be cancer survivor. I will finish over 14 months of treatment on the 28th April 2021. I plan to run 10km on 27 April 2021, before finishing my final treatment.

I was diagnosed on 25 February 2020 at the age of 35 years old with an aggressive Stage 2 / Grade 3 breast cancer. A mosquito bite helped me discover the tumour I would never have found, as I felt great otherwise. 

The diagnosis came as a "huge" shock to me, especially with no cancer history in my family and living a healthy and active lifestyle. What shocked me more was that 1 in 7 women develop breast cancer, and the average age is getting younger each year.

Being diagnosed with cancer is a complete roller coaster ride. I had my first big surgery less than 36 hrs after diagnosis. I then had a further 2 surgeries in the 2 weeks that followed, as well as many scans and appointments in between. 

I then started chemotherapy on 19th March 2020, just days before the pandemic was declared in Australia. Doing chemotherapy treatment during the pandemic was very scary, because chemotherapy treatment compromises your immune system. I realised how compromised my immunity was when just before Christmas, I had my second mosquito bite of the year, which landed me in hospital for almost a week with a serious infection (please - no more mosquitos now!!). 

Chemotherapy was physically really tough to go through. I lost over 10kg in the first 2 months alone and was very unwell. I was unable to take family support to treatment, due to the hospital restrictions during the pandemic. It was tough mentally to keep turning up to treatment alone, when I knew how unwell the chemo would make me feel for days after.  It is a really unnatural thing in life to willingly turn up and do something that you know will beat you down after.

My treating nurses became my second family and cheer squad during my treatment sessions. I also received incredible support from my McGrath nurse and amazing medical team of doctors. I cannot be more blessed and grateful for the incredible medical and nursing support that got me through some very tough times. 

There have been many challenges and losses on this journey. One of the hardest moments was losing my long curly hair just 2 weeks after starting my first chemo. I did not realise how important hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were for my outward identity. I had to accept that my outward appearances does not define who I am as a person. I had to accept that losing my hair was the short-term "trade-in" needed to survive long-term. 

I have so far had 4 surgeries, 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation and 16 rounds of targeted therapy. I have 1 more round of targeted therapy left. 

I have been keeping as fit as possible during treatment and I've decided to run 10km before I finish cancer treatment. The goal was initially a personal goal I wanted to conquer. I wanted to prove to myself that if I can run 10km before finishing cancer treatment, I can conquer future challenges that life may throw my way.

However, after continuing to devastatingly meet other young women going through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I have decided to use my run to help raise funds for much-needed research to end this horrible disease and find a cause and cure once and for all. 

Not everyone survives breast cancer or has the same treatment outcomes or options as I have had. The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) are on a mission to have "zero deaths by 2030". This is something that I would love to support.

The targeted therapy I am currently receiving is all thanks to the work of the  NBCF who pushed the research of this drug many years ago, enabling it to be on the PBS and a standard protocol for my exact type of breast cancer. This gives me an extremely positive prognosis when all is complete. 

Not all breast cancers have such good outcomes, and I can only hope, pray and try and raise much needed funds to support my friends who are without targeted treatment options because of their type of breast cancer. 

If 1 in 7 women are being diagnosed, I figure there are a lot more friends who will also one day be diagnosed and walk this very difficult journey.

Please do not feel obligated to support this cause financially. You can cheer my run on the 27th April 2021 from the sidelines. It is a cause that is close to my heart, and I will keep on training to run the 10km for a cure before my last treatment day!

Thank you to my Supporters

$510

Anne-marie Berry

You amaze me Mandy. Through it all, you still bring smiles to everyone. No challenge required - you already smash us all!!! Much love to you xx

$510

Anonymous

$260

Mum And Dad

We are thankful to the Lord for His mercies. We are grateful to the NBCF and all the Medical Angels for their outstanding and dedicated support for Mandy. We are also grateful to friends and family for their unwavering love and kindness. We are proud of you, our beautiful daughter, and thank God for your faith, courage and resilience in the face of a challenging season... This 10km RUN, is an important milestone and a fitting echo of gratitude... Go for it Mandy... Love... Mum and Dad

$260

Mandy Hanna

$208

Gialouris Family

We absolutely love having you in our lives. You radiate positivity and are a blessing to all that meet you. You rock Mandy and so do your foot plates. ? Good luck with the 10km xxx

$208

Patricia Mcphail

$200

Nick Kelly

Good luck Mandy!!

$200

Fiona Fonti

Sending much love to you my friend. You are such an inspiration xoxo

$104

Anonymous

You have gone thru the journey and come out the other side which is wonderful thanks to all the research and improvements in treatment much of it funded through fund-raising.

$104

Tess & Seth

You are very special, Mandy. We are very blessed to know you. Much love from T-Bone and Sefa xox PS Half Marathon is on the horizon ?

$104

Wendy And Scott

Go for it Mandy !

$104

Meredith & Brett

You’ve got this, Mandy! We’re looking forward to hearing all about it ?

$104

Cath

Mandy you legend Fund raising and research has definitely made a difference since my family’s breast cancer journey over 30years ago. Thank you Mandy

$104

Anonymous

$104

Myles White

$104

Antoinette

You’re such an inspiration and great friend - so happy you’ve got to the other side of this journey the way you did ❤️

$104

Beth Senn

Thanks for sharing your story, Mandy. You are and always have been an amazing woman. xx

$104

Samantha Quinn

Mands we may not be physically there to cheer you on but we’ll be doing it from afar. You've been amazing in your attitude on your journey being a warrior and soon to be survivor and I’ve no doubt you helped so many others along the way who you’ve met by sharing your story and experience and positive outlook on life. Beat of luck with the run! Sam, Darren and Paddy x

$104

Shona

You are an inspiration Mandy!! ??

$100

Hannah, Monica, Jessica & Mona

You’re an inspiration - powerful, beautiful, smart, and resilient! Congratulations on persevering and kicking cancer in the butt!!

$100

Bass & Helen

Run like the wind Manda!

$100

Synergy Mind Body Fitness

When life gave you 100 reasons to cry, and you showed it a 1000 reasons to smile..... you are an inspiration and a force to mess with. Keep fighting and being awesome!

$100

Tony, Jessica & Ladybug

So much love for Aunty Mandy!

$57.20

Rudy & Janelle Van Kerckhof

Go well in your 10klm Mandy but go steady and look after yourself.

$52

Mala N

You go girl!!

$52

Mena Kakakios

$52

Nadia Wassef

Go Mandy! You’re an inspiration ❤️

$52

Maree Mcglinchey

Mand-ificent!!!!

$52

Brigid Ward

Well done my beautiful friend I never doubted you for a minute ❤️??

$52

Leina Aran

Bravery and courage are two of your greatest assets. I have no doubt that you will beat anything..... You inspire me every day.

$52

Erin C

Such an inspiration Mandy ?

$52

Larissa Aldridge

You are an amazing and strong woman, Mandy! xx

$52

Anonymous

Cheers for Mandy!

$52

Angie Giallourakis

Go Mandy ! You are amazing ?

$52

Sarah Rumball

Youre amazing Mandy!!

$52

Sharon Mcgregor

Good luck Mandy

$50

Arielle Shenouda

Go Mands!!! ???

$50

Rosemary

Best of luck!

$41.60

Louise Nava

$36.40

Vicki Johnston

You are an absolute inspiration!

$36.40

Jessica Bassutti

You are inspiration Mandy! Thanks for sharing your story and supporting such a great cause Xxx

$36.40

Jodie F

Such a amazing, strong woman you all are. This cause is so close to my heart with my Grandma having it as well as so many friends. Lots of lovexx

$35

Alison Cole

Awesome work Mandy! Fittest PA ever! Ali and Mike

$35

R, J, Z, N With Love

So thankful for you A Mandy. Love R, J, Z, N

$32

Justine Tinker

You are truly amazing

$25

Yolly

Ding dong

$20.80

Christie C

Will be cheering you on Mandy xx

$20.80

Christie Longinidis

Praying for you Mandy xxx

$20.80

Ruth B

Go Mandy ?

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