Do you fight like a girl?

Then join the Mother’s Day Classic walk/run.

(Left: Participants from last year.)

If you read the headline of this article and thought, “Well, that’s not very politically correct” then let me introduce you to the amazing energy of Rachael Phillips — who proudly fights like a girl.

Rachael is walking/running in the Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday 8 May 2011 to raise funds for breast cancer research.  And she is inviting other men and women to join her “Fight Like a Girl” team to participate in or donate to the event.

“I love boxing, and every woman is a fighter” she says. “We fight for our families and friends and all the girls I know draw that power from the ones they love.  After seeing friends and family battle cancer — some winners, some who are lost — I know its not just those going through treatment who feel the effects of this disease.”

By day, Rachael works with us as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, swim instructor and holiday program leader.

But as her alter-ego, Rachael “The Phoenix” Phillips, she is the current bantamweight Victorian kickboxing champion.

As a 40 year old mother with three teenage children in her house she is still running rings around her 20 year old competitors!  And on Sunday 8th May 2011 she is going to be running rings around ‘the tan’ to raise money for breast cancer research.

“I am hoping to raise as much money as possible to help fund vital research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer and that is why I’m asking for your help in my mission to raise funds”, she says.

“Every fundraising dollar goes to National Breast Cancer Foundation’s research programs that will help make a better future for the one in nine Australian women who will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime.”

There are a number of ways to get involved:

• Participate in the event — There is a 4km and 8km option walk or run option that is open to men and women.  Go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au to register online, and be sure to add yourself to the team ‘Fight like a girl’.  Team members will be provided with ‘Fight like a girl’ awesome pink wing uniforms.
• Join the training sessions that Rachael has organised — Until the event every Saturday @ 12.00noon at Lilydale lake; every Sunday at 8.00am at 1000 steps, Dandenong Ranges; and every Thursday 12.00noon will be at Healthways.  Phone Rachael on 0400 859 336 to get more details.
• Donate to breast cancer research — Go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au and search for ‘Rachael Phillips’ in the ‘Online Fundraisers’ box.  You can make a donation on behalf of Rachael’s effort.  When you donate, a receipt will be automatically generated and emailed to you.

“Please help me fund this important research by going to the website or joining me on the run”, Rachael says.  “Come along and let’s all fight like girls.  I definitely fight like a big girl”, she says with a cheeky smile.

Australian Breast Cancer Statistics:

• One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85
• Currently 36 women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer every day
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women, accounting for 28% of all cancer diagnoses in 2006.
• There were 2,618 female deaths from breast cancer in 2006
• There were 25 male deaths from breast cancer in 2006