By Romy Stephens
A Ferntree Gully family has a big month ahead as it looks to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.
George Dyer along with his two daughters, Ashley and Taylor, are participating in numerous fundraising events throughout June.
The girls have pledged to go pink for the entire month, while George is running hundreds of kilometres through two separate events.
George said his family often participated in breast cancer fundraising events after his mother passed away from the disease 27 years ago, aged 60.
George said the early passing of his mother prevented her from having a relationship with his daughters.
“The girls were young, they don’t have any recollection of their grandmother,” he said.
But that didn’t mean they weren’t impacted by their grandmother’s death. In fact, it was Ashley and Taylor’s idea to begin the fundraising.
About 10 weeks ago the pair made a pledge that they would dye their hair pink for the month of June.
George, feeling very proud of his daughters’ pledge, then decided that he too would fundraise by running.
His first fundraiser took place on 7 June at the Knox Athletics Track where he ran 100kms and donated $1 for every kilometre both he and others ran.
During the fundraiser, 879.5km were walked or run – including George’s 100km – and about $2500 was raised.
“It was just an amazing feeling to get to the finish line for such a worthy cause,” George said.
“I can’t thank my daughters Ashley and Taylor enough for all their organising and love and support throughout the day.
“It was an amazing and emotional day with so many family and friends coming along to run laps and support me on this 100km journey.”
George, who works for Metro Trains, will take on another fundraiser this month called The Great Train Run.
It will see him run the entire metropolitan train network from 10-19 June.
“Part of the campaign is trying to eliminate any deaths by the year 2030,” George said.
“From our experience with my mother, if she had gone to the doctors early she might still be here today.
“Awareness is one thing but you need funds for hopefully a cure in the end.
“Unfortunately there are too many cancers and too many people dying at a young age from cancer…If we can save one life that’s a bonus.”
George said his mum had been a huge inspiration for him throughout life and she will be in his thoughts “all the way along this journey.”
“Mum used to go to all our sporting events and was on numerous committees,” he said.
“She was always there and she has been a big inspiration.
“If she had been here she would have been at the track, she would have been following me every step of the way.”
For more information about the Dyer family’s campaigns or to donate, visit https://fundraise.nbcf.org.au/fundraiser/ashleyandtaylordyer.
The family’s story can be found by scrolling towards the bottom of the page.
