Amid the throng of 90,000 runners tackling the Voltaren City2Surf this weekend, Robyn Smith will be carrying a deeply personal message.
The Canberra mother-of-three will run the 14-kilometre course from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach topless.
Painted over her mastectomy scars will be the words, “Flat out for funding”.
“Choosing to stay flat is just as legitimate as opting for reconstruction,” Smith stated, mentioning that many Australians live contentedly and confidently without opting for breast reconstruction.
For Smith, her run is also a tribute to her family, who weren’t given the same choices.
She considers herself “really lucky to have access to information that others didn’t have,” and although she is advocating for an important cause, she believes her mum would find humor in her efforts.
“Sometimes I think my mum must be up there just rolling her eyes and thinking, ‘What are you doing?'” she said.
The second message of her run is also a plea for help.
Smith, along with her team at Inherited Cancers Australia, is facing challenges in obtaining funding for their patient advocacy group, which has yet to receive support from the federal government.
She hopes her bold action will grab the attention of corporate sponsors who might be willing to “support the little guy”.
The organisation provides crucial psychosocial support for families with inherited cancer risk, an issue that affects one in 400 Australians.
“I am doing this because I feel like we’ve exhausted a lot of other avenues,” she said.
“We’re doing something bold like this because we’re a small charity without sustainable funding.”
Smith says she has two messages she will be carrying to Bondi this Sunday.
“One of them is written on my chest, and the other is my chest.”
