There’s lots of interesting numbers to know about the Mother’s Day Classic.
Firstly, it’s turning 20 this year. Since then participants have walked nearly 6.5 million kilometres.
More than 5 million safety pins have kept bibs in place since 1998.
Last year the oldest contestant was 96.
We could go on, but you get the gist.
However, it’s the individual stories behind the numbers that make the Mother’s Day Classic such a heartwarming and special event.
This year, Toowoomba’s event will be held at Queen’s Park on Sunday 14 May at 7am.
And the guest speaker will be someone with a very personal story to tell. Pamela Schramm was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2015.
When faced with the terrible task of explaining cancer to her young children she was underwhelmed by the black and white brochure the nurses gave her. So she decided to create her own resource, and wrote her book My Strong Mummy.
Originally intended just for her children’s eyes, the book is starting to find the people who need it, with many breast cancer nurses saying it’s the best on the market.
Read on for our Q&A with Pamela.
Could you please tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am married to Peter and have three children. James my sensitive 8-year-old, Harry my spirited 6-year-old, and my cheeky baby girl, Ivy who will be 3 in July.
We own a grain and cereal farm in North Star NSW. I grew up just outside Toowoomba and went to Fairholme Collage. We visit Toowoomba regularly as my family live there.
Why did you want to be involved with the Mother’s Day Classic?
I had heard of the MDC, and I remember my first Mother’s Day after starting chemo and I thought, “what a good idea, I will participate one day!”. One year later in May 2016 after a lumpectomy, chemo and radium in 2015, I walked the MDC with my sister, Margaret and her two girls, Holly and Sophie. I didn’t think I would ever be guest speaker!!
Pamela (right) with her sister (courtesy of Instagram: @mystrongmummy_cancersurvivor)
Can you tell me about your book, My Strong Mummy?
I didn’t ever plan on having my book published. I wrote it intending to put it in my children’s memory boxes.
My friends were extremely enthusiastic and raised the money to have it published! Our amazing community in the Goondiwindi area, plus some overseas friends and family, raised over $12,000. This was more than enough to have it published.
The balance went to Breast Cancer Network Australia and ALL proceeds from the book go to BCNA as well. I do not want to profit from the first 2,000 books published as it was crowdfunded.
I enjoyed the distraction writing this book during my chemo and radium. My mother, Joy Dill, illustrated it and I think her job was the hardest. I love every illustration.
What is your hope for the book? Would you like to see it in libraries and bookstores across the world?
My book has gone to England and America, with either friends or strangers discovering there is a need for something like this overseas as well.
I am very proud to say that breast care nurses are saying: “My Strong Mummy is the best on the market.”
I have connected with women from one end of Australia to the other, (and a few overseas) in the same difficult circumstances as me.
One mum going through a very rough time helping her 11-year-old understand the process said that her daughter was much more settled once they sat down and read my book.
One of the illustrations in the My Strong Mummy book (courtesty www.mystrongmummy.com)
Many mums discover it after chemo and wish they had it before. I would like it to go into a care package for women with young children.
I have printed 2000 books and I will just wait to see how they go before I make plans for the future.
At the moment I need to spend time with my family and catch up on precious time lost during treatment. As I do the office work for our business I am extremely behind and just need to concentrate on our life.
Are you running in the event?
RUNNING – never! Walking, maybe! I have planter fasciitis and the physio has told me not to run. Perhaps I’ll just cheer everyone on! But I do usually love to walk. Clears my head. These days I have been bike riding, which is easier on my aching feet.
How are you feeling these days, after such a long road with treatment?
I do get extremely down that I just can’t achieve as much as I used too in one day. The fatigue and general body aches are difficult. I do listen to my body now and sleep when I can. And when I feel good I try not to overdo it. Chemo plays havoc with your hormones and I seem to be in and out of chemo induced menopause! Not fun!
Growing my hair has been more exciting than I thought. It’s come back thicker than before, but otherwise exactly the same. Very straight like before, I was hoping for some chemo curls!
I am concentrating on eating well and exercising. My blood tests have recently come back healthier than normal. I strongly believe food and exercise can be medicine. I am feeling very good despite the odd tired day or two. Like any mum I guess.
And finally, what’s the one thing you’d like women to hear from you about breast cancer treatment?
Feel your boobies no matter what age!! YOU could save your own life!!!!
I believe women in their 20s should be encouraged to do self checks. Until I was diagnosed many of my friends in their 30s and 40s hadn’t done self checks and didn’t know how to!
I find this unbelievable with the media attention breast cancer gets. Something is missing educating women under 50!
You can purchase Pamela’s book for $15 from mystrongmummy.com and register for the MDC at
