Nan and granddaughter beat cancer and then did the Mother’s Day Classic together

At 16, Chelsea was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Now 19, she shares a special bond with her nan, having beaten cancer four times between them.

Since 1998 the five-year survival rate for breast cancer has increased from 84 per cent to 92 per cent. However, treatment advances in ovarian cancer have been limited. Picture: Dean Martin

Chelsea Regan was just 16 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer called a Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumour in 2020.

Her ovary and an 11cm tumour were removed, and she was given the all-clear with no other cancerous cells detected.

Just like her nan Lorraine Wirth she had beaten cancer.

But then, just like her nan, it came back.

Chelsea was studying Year 12 when her doctor discovered another growth in her remaining ovary.

Both of them were at the Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday, embracing at the finishing line and celebrating the fact both of them had survived cancer … four times between them.

“Growing up doing the Mother’s Day Classic, obviously I was aware of breast cancer but I didn’t know about ovarian cancer until I got it,” the now-19-year-old said.

“It’s awesome now young women are coming to the Mother’s Day Classic and are aware of both … the statistics for breast cancer have improved over the years and events like this help with that.”

Gallery: All the fun at the Mother’s Day Classic

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They were joined by thousands of early-risers, decked out in pink, who flocked to the 2024 Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday.

The annual fun run has become a special event to raise money for breast cancer research, but in 2024, the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation decided to go further and also raise funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Mrs Firth was “so happy” to see the event that meant so much to her during her diagnosis expand to include fundraising for Ovarian Cancer research and awareness following her granddaughter’s diagnosis.

“The event has changed so much, it’s grown heaps, I am really pleased the ovarian cancer awareness is part of it,” she said.

“Breast cancer treatment has been so advanced – I’ve survived two lots – but Chels is on the beginning of her journey and it’s great to see that money going into the younger generation.”

Chelsea Regan, 19, of Colonel Light Gardens and her grandmother, Lorraine Wirth of Pasadena, front centre, have both known the scourge on life that is cancer. Picture: Dean Martin

Chelsea and her Nan Lorraine Wirth were all smiles at the Mother’s Day Classic. Picture: Dean Martin

After 11 years of taking to the course alongside her nan Lorraine Wirth, up until 2018, this year Chelsea’s Nan was waiting at the finish line.

Chelsea said she was currently “in the clear” but, facing the threat of having her other ovary removed at 17, she was forced to make a quick decision to protect her fertility.

She underwent 11 days of injections to stimulate her remaining ovary for IVF and the tumour was removed and surgeons were able to maintain most of her remaining ovary which means she still produces eggs.

According to the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation, since 1998 the five-year survival rate for breast cancer has increased from 84 per cent to 92 per cent over this period, however, treatment advances in ovarian cancer had been limited.

The survival rate for ovarian cancer is 49 per cent and there remains no early detection test.

Originally published as Nan and granddaughter beat cancer and then did the Mother’s Day Classic together