A team of 50 triathletes have added a fourth leg to this year’s Noosa Triathlon – fundraising for cancer research.
Participants, including six-time Paralympian and cancer survivor Michael Milton, tackled the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run course as part of Smiling for Smiddy’s ‘Tri to Fight Cancer’ supporting research at Mater Medical Research Institute (MMRI).
The team has raised more than $78,000 for research into a disease which sees more than 100,000 Australians diagnosed each year.
Smiling for Smiddy founder Mark Smoothy said, “Many of our Tri to Fight Cancer participants have personal stories and connections to cancer so it’s inspiring to see them combine their participation with raising funds for research”.
“The Noosa Tri is is a challenging event and competing in memory of loved ones lost to cancer will make crossing that finish line all the more rewarding”.
Since 2006, Smiling for Smiddy has raised more than $2 million with funds supporting MMRI and the team is on track to raise $700 000 this year through its program of challenge events.
Smiling for Smiddy supports three world-class research projects at Mater: melanoma, prostate cancer and a study into complementary therapies to improve quality of life for cancer patients.
Mater Foundation Executive Director, Nigel Harris said, “Too many Australians are touched by cancer. Thanks to vital funds raised by Smiling for Smiddy, scientists at MMRI are one step closer to developing new therapies for prostate cancer which could harness a person’s own immune system to fight the disease.”
Other beneficiaries of Smiling for Smiddy funds include Melanoma Patients Australia, Flinders Medical Centre Foundation and the PA Research Foundation.
Smiling for Smiddy honours the memory of Adam Smiddy, a 26-year-old Brisbane physiotherapist and keen triathlete, who passed away to an aggressive melanoma in August 2006
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