ST HILDA’S MARATHON VICTORY
The girls at St Hilda’s School at Southport really appreciate their mums as was shown by their efforts in the Mother’s Day Classic
PEOPLE of the Gold Coast may have turned out in style for the annual Mother’s Day Classic, but for one school, the 2018 event was an even more special occasion.
St Hilda’s School received the award for the largest school group at the event — the 10th year in a row they have claimed the title.
The Southport all-girls’ school began participating in 2008 and last year managed to get 180 students involved, each bringing with them their parents, siblings, and friends.
Community events liaison Simone Crowther said she was ecstatic with the school’s involvement each year, adding the previous year, the closest school group was only 120.
“It’s a really lovely event that we love to be part of, not only because we are the only girl’s school on the Coast but because we are a boarding school,” she said.
“So girls go with their house mums or their boarding mums. It is a real sisterhood throughout the day for girls and the boarders.”
This year, the school had 81 girls involved, a colossal effort according to Ms Crowther because both the school musical and cross country were on the day before.
“They’re very passionate, that’s why they get involved.”
Ms Crowther said many students had been affected by breast cancer among their parents, extended family and even sisters.
“We get out and we go and we do things not just for ourselves but for others.
“For the young girls, being able to get up and watch their school captains on stage, and then the next day she’s out there walking with her friends, they can see what they can do.
“They see, ‘I can get out and be part of things’.”
For Year 12 student Hanna Shrubshall, the marathon has an even greater importance after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.
After her mother underwent a mastectomy last year, she was unable to attend the marathon, meaning she was all the more eager to be involved this year.
The 2018 marathon is only the second Hanna has been involved in, but she said the school’s involvement meant a lot to her family.
And her graduation would not stop her being involved next year, she said.
“It’s quite amazing, this is such a major thing to achieve.
“It’s something to set as a long-term goal, to always try to participate, and the school tries to promote it so much.
“We really want to be involved.”
Supporting breast cancer research is an important cause for the school, which also held a breakfast for more than 200 mothers and daughters last week, and this week had a High Tea planned.
As well as being St Hilda’s School’s 10th year at the marathon, it’s the 20th anniversary of the Mother’s Day Classic overall.
The event, founded by Women in Super, is the single largest donor to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and has raised more than $35 million across Australia since its beginning.
Thousands joined in on the Gold Coast’s walk, which stretched from Broadbeach to Mermaid Beach and back, with runners choosing either a 4km or 8km course.
Though the race is already over, donations for the Mother’s Day Classic are open until June 30, 2018.
With less than a year until the next Mother’s Day Classic, it seems like the race is on for other schools to get their teams together.
St Hilda’s School is the team to beat.