A vibrant splash of pink sarees lit up Melbourne’s Mother’s Day Classic as a group of Indian-Australian women doctors and their supporters—calling themselves the Saheli Club—participated in the annual charity run, walking in unison to raise awareness about breast and ovarian cancer in multicultural communities.
For these doctors, who treat cancer patients in their everyday work, their debut in 2023 event was more than a fundraiser. It was a powerful statement about representation, health equity, and cultural pride.
Donning bright pink sarees and salwar kameezes, the Sahelis turned heads and sparked conversations.
“What started as a fun way of getting active together has turned into a statement,” said Dr Nisha Khot, one of the organisers.
“We wanted to show that embracing our cultural identity can go hand in hand with supporting broader community causes and staying healthy.”
Dr Khot added taht their participation also spotlighted an important issue: the exercise and cancer screening gaps that persist among women from multicultural and non-English speaking backgrounds.
“We wanted to send a two-fold message to Indian–Australian women—the importance of physical activity and of cancer screening.”
The women’s joyful, eye-catching presence this year too drew interest and admiration from fellow participants and bystanders, many of whom stopped to take photos and learn more about the meaning behind their traditional clothing.
Dr Khot explained the broader aim:
“It’s important that we are seen, heard, and active in public life. And what better way than through a joyful, colourful expression of culture?”
The Saheli Club’s message resonated: cultural visibility and community health advocacy can go hand-in-hand.
The 2025 Mother’s Day Classic held today (Sunday 11 May) in Melbourne along with many other Victorian locations offered participants the chance to support breast cancer research, ovarian cancer research, or both, through 4K, 8K, or 12K walk/run events. Since 1998, the event has raised over $47 million for vital research—with a new focus from 2024 on halting ovarian cancer in its tracks, alongside the ongoing fight against breast cancer.
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