HOLISTIC - Facebook Connection Helps Bring Back Sunshine Coast Mother’s Day Classic

After a five-year hiatus, the Sunshine Coast Mother’s Day Classic made its return in 2025

— thanks to an unexpected connection between two strangers on Facebook who shared a deeply personal commitment to the cause.

The much-loved community event, which raises vital funds for breast and ovarian cancer research, had not been held locally since 2019 when events across Australia were halted due to COVID-19.

Local organiser Hayley King previously coordinated the Sunshine Coast Mother’s Day Classic from 2016 to 2019, with the 2019 event marking the last time the community gathered for the walk before the pandemic paused events nationwide. In the years that followed, many Sunshine Coast residents missed the opportunity to come together locally to support this important cause. 

In early 2025, Sunshine Coast local Angela Jones took to the Sunshine Coast Community Facebook page asking if anyone knew how she could bring the event back to the region. 

Angela and her friends were eager to see the event return so they could participate locally again, rather than travelling to Brisbane, and she believed many others in the community felt the same.

Hayley saw Angela’s post and reached out. What began as a simple online interaction quickly grew into a shared mission. Despite being complete strangers at the time, the two women soon realised they were united by a strong desire to see the Mother’s Day Classic return to the Sunshine Coast.

For both women, the cause is deeply personal. Hayley lost her mother to breast cancer in 2014; this was when Hayley and her sisters started participating in the event. For Hayley and her family, the Mother’s Day Classic became an annual tradition to honour her mother Lynette King. 

“It’s such an incredible feeling to see all of these people whom you don’t know, come together and raise funds and awareness for a disease that devastates so many people and families, it’s an emotional experience that fills me with happiness and sadness all at once,” said Hayley

At just 36 years old, Angela Jones was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. As a single mum to two young boys, the diagnosis was devastating—not only physically, but emotionally and financially. 

Facing an intense year of chemotherapy and radiation, Angela stepped away from work to focus on treatment and survival. Through it all, her family and friends rallied around her, providing strength and support during one of the most difficult times of her life.

After her experience, Angela became determined to help create change. Recognising the absence of the Mother’s Day Classic on the Sunshine Coast, she partnered with Hayley to help bring the event back to the community. 

“I hope to highlight that the cancer journey doesn’t simply end when treatment finishes. For many survivors and their families, the fear of cancer returning can be overwhelming, and ongoing support is incredibly important,” said Angela.

Their shared experiences strengthened their determination to give the local community the opportunity once again to walk, run and come together in support of those affected by breast and ovarian cancer.

Hayley mentored Angela through the process of organising the 2025 event, and despite rain on the day, the Sunshine Coast community still turned out in support — demonstrating just how meaningful the event remains for many local families. 

Working together as joint event coordinators, Hayley and Angela are expanding the event to include a new 10km run alongside the traditional 5km run and walk. They are hoping to welcome more than 500 participants from across the Sunshine Coast community.

“Our goal is to create one of the region’s biggest events raising vital funds for breast and ovarian cancer research, while reminding survivors and those affected by cancer that they are not alone,” said Hayley.

“I am passionate about raising awareness that breast cancer doesn’t only affect older women,” added Angela. 

“While screening programs often focus on women over 50, more and more women in their 30s and 40s are being diagnosed every year. Living a healthy lifestyle—eating well, exercising and managing stress—is important, but cancer doesn’t discriminate.”

Angela encourages women to listen to their bodies, get regular checks and see a doctor if something doesn’t feel right.

What began as a simple Facebook post between two strangers has grown into a shared mission to revive a much-loved community event — one that honours loved ones, celebrates survivors and continues to raise vital funds for breast and ovarian cancer research.