Conquering Melbourne Marathon: Meet Cure Cancer fundraiser Davo
By Emily Usher | 5 September 2023
Cure Cancer fundraiser David Sutherland – Davo to his pals – will run 10km on Sunday 15th October as part of the Melbourne Marathon Festival. Here, he shares with us the four special reasons he’s decided to raise money for Cure Cancer.
With just over a month to go, Davo has already raised $1,103 of his $1,500 goal for Cure Cancer.
Originally from Hamilton, Victoria, 69-year-old Davo has always understood the importance of family and friends. Having grown up on a farm with two brothers and a sister, and now a father of four and grandfather of four, the people in Davo’s life are what he holds most dear.
Sadly, four important people in Davo’s life are currently undergoing treatment for cancer, which is why he’s decided to raise money for Cure Cancer by running 10km at this year’s Melbourne Marathon Festival.
“Right now, one of my amazing nieces, Heidi; the dad of one of my youngest son’s best mates, Mikey; and two of my neighbours, Rowan and Gayle, are dealing with cancer,” says Davo. “I’m endlessly inspired by their incredible courage. It just goes to show that anyone can get cancer. Anyone can have their life cut short by this horrible disease.”
Davo is going the extra mile for four important people in his life who are living with cancer.
Davo’s close proximity to cancer through those around him has made him particularly vigilant. “I’ve definitely become more rigorous about having regular skin tests and screenings. Catching cancer early is critical to a good outcome, but the more money we raise, the more funding can go towards creating life-saving treatments!”
Training for race day
Davo has been training for the Melbourne Marathon Festival 10km event twice a week.
Having taken part in the Melbourne Marathon Festival 10km event last year, Davo was keen to run again. “I love running,” he says. “A great running mate actually encouraged me to sign up, and I am so very grateful he did. I discovered that I could run and fundraise for a fantastic cause at the same time, which became the real motivator. It’s giving me so much joy, knowing I’m running for people that I care about a lot.”
To get race-fit, Davo has been training twice a week, with a mix of 5km park runs and participation in his local Masters Athletics Venue events. He’s also been taking part in fortnightly fun runs with the Southern Peninsula Sports Club. “I find making sure that there’s a bit of a mixture keeps things interesting,” he says.
The finish line
As race day draws nearer, Davo is looking forward to celebrating at the finish line, knowing that his donors, family and friends are cheering him on from afar. “It’s a massive event. Last year I think there were more than 11,000 runners in the 10km race. It was exhilarating to be a part of it! That’s what I am looking forward to. Once it’s all done and dusted, I’ll be cooking up a tasty risotto and putting my feet up to watch a movie!”
Davo posing in his Cure Cancer t-shirt shortly after receiving it in the mail.
Davo donating his plasma, which can benefit cancer patients who need plasma transfusions.
Raising money for cancer research
Dr Eric Kusnadi is one of Cure Cancer's 2023 cohort of cancer researchers.
Last year, Cure Cancer supporters raised over $100,000 at Melbourne Marathon, which funded a year of Dr Eric Kusnadi's research project, focused on developing new drugs to treat advanced prostate cancer.
“Just knowing that someone like Eric is working on this potentially life-saving research warms my heart,” says Davo.
Davo has already raised $1,103 of his $1,500 goal. You can help him reach his goal here.
