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Motivated by his family’s history with ovarian cancer and a desire to support research that will save women’s lives, Corey McKay will be taking on the 21.1km HALF Marathon and the 42.2km FULL Marathon at the Gold Coast Marathon Festival, in support of OCRF. Read more about his decision to support the OCRF through this epic challenge and his desire to make a difference.
“When Mum received an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2009 it was a devastating moment. As people who have experienced it will know – time genuinely stood still for a few moments when mum found out. It changed everything for our family and was a time of immense struggle, sacrifices, and financial burden.
Every woman’s story is unique and my Mum’s was no different. She had witnessed the passing of her own mother due to endometrial and ovarian cancer just 12 months before, and now she was facing the same battle. As a young boy at the time, it was unimaginable to comprehend but with time I grew to understand the magnitude of how that must have felt.”
While devastating, the experience brought their family closer together, highlighting the strength and unwavering support they provided one another. Witnessing his mother's resilience and positive mindset during such a difficult time has inspired Corey to take action.
Challenging boundaries
Corey decided 2023 would be the year to step outside of his comfort zone and test both his physical and mental boundaries. Corey's training regimen is focused on preparing his body and mind for the rigorous Half and Full Marathons and he has been running four times a week in preparation.
“While incomparable to cancer, marathon running, with its physical and mental challenges, is symbolic of the resilience and determination shown by women like Mum during treatment and diagnosis.” This powerful symbol will keep him going during this incredible challenge.
In preparation for the marathons, he joined a community running club where he discovered “a wholesome community of friends and family who share a passion for running, positivity and support.
Not only is it a personal achievement in completing the events, but it is also an incredible weekend to be surrounded by positive, like-minded people.”
Running for a reason
Driven by a desire to prevent other families from enduring the same challenges his own faced, Corey hopes to contribute to ongoing research efforts and create a brighter future for women affected by ovarian cancer, everywhere.
“Unfortunately, due to the immense difficulty in detecting early signs/symptoms for ovarian cancer, many women find out they have ovarian cancer when it’s too late to treat effectively.
This fundraiser is not to support my mother’s cause, but to support the OCRF with their research in finding ways to help detect ovarian cancer earlier in women, leading to a better prognosis and overall survival rate for every woman.”
Corey’s Mum tells us “I think it is amazing what he (Corey) is doing and I am extremely proud in the effort he is continually putting in to see this goal through. The more that people know about and understand ovarian cancer the better we will be in our fight against it, which is the whole purpose of what he is doing.”
Corey has set a target of $2,500 and hopes to achieve his target by sharing his fundraising page with his connections on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and by reaching out to family and friends. This has also helped spread the word about the importance of ovarian cancer research. But he didn’t stop there! He also printed flyers with a QR code linked to his fundraising page, distributing them to businesses in the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
“Every effort counts, and I want to involve as many people as possible in supporting this cause.”
Corey hopes that by combining his love for running with fundraising for the OCRF, he can inspire others to do the same. Find out more about upcoming events taking place around Australia.
Donate to Corey's fundraising page.
Photography credit: Barbara Vali Photography