The 38-year-old veteran of what is now the largest fundraiser for breast cancer research is Canberra’s inaugural Classic Champion for her fundraising efforts which exceed $50,000 since the event started in the nation’s capital 10 years ago.

Couter, a project manager at one of Canberra’s largest project management firms, Construction Control, says it’s purely by chance that the event is now an annual fixture in her life and a chance to make a difference.

“A friend from Construction Control and I ran the four kilometres in the Mother’s Day Classic out at Dairy Flat 10 years ago. We asked around and raised $1000 and thought: ‘Wow, this really means something’,” says Couter.

“The next year we put in some effort to training and fundraising. Construction Control was a major sponsor and we were the highest fundraisers in the ACT. It has snowballed from there,” she says.

What Couter has noticed every year in the lead up to the event is just how prevalent breast cancer is and how many lives are affected.

“When I talk to the subcontractors and tradies on site they tell me how their wives or sisters or mothers have breast cancer. The wives of two out of three directors of Construction Control have had breast cancer. You don’t have to look far and someone knows someone. It has affected them all and I realise how lucky I am and that, for not much effort, I can do something,” says Couter.

Couter has run the event in rain, hail and shine, usually with her mother Robyn Logan, who this year will be travelling.

With no connection to social media, her fundraising efforts are generally via direct email or face to face.

“I’ll take the $5, $20 or $10,000 cheque,” says Couter who is already in training for the 10-kilometre run on May 8.

What started as a way to honour those affected by breast cancer and to support research into the disease has grown into Australia’s largest breast cancer fundraiser involving more than 130,000 participants around the country raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

So far the MDC has raised $27.4 million and funded more than 30 projects.

Since Women in Super initiated the event in 1998, five-year survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer have been increasing, and now stand at 89 per cent of those diagnosed.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Australia.

One in eight Australian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

“Mother’s Day Classic is not about breaking speed records. Our focus is on participation, whether you walk, run or volunteer. Many people have fun dressing up: you’ll see everything from pink pirates to teams in tutus,” says Mother’s Day Classic CEO Sharon Morris.

“It is also about fundraising and this year we have set a new target to provide $4 million for the National Breast Cancer Foundation to fund life-changing breast cancer research.

“Our support helps the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) with the ultimate goal of no more deaths from breast cancer. NBCF funds life-changing research including better diagnosis and treatment options and improved quality of life after treatment.

“Mother’s Day Classic participants can be confident that 100 per cent of fundraising from the event goes straight to NBCF – there’s not many charity events that can say that.

“You don’t have to be super-fit! More than half our participants walk with family and friends. With family discounts and family-friendly activities on the day, Mother’s Day Classic is a great way to start a special day of celebration with your whole family.”

Couter has set a personal fundraising target this year of $15,000. She is running in memory of all the men and women connected to the construction industry who have been affected by breast cancer.

Register for the event at mothersdayclassic.com.au/register; put together a team, mothersdayclassic.com.au/teams or to volunteer, mothersdayclassic.com.au/volunteer