This month we interviewed Jane McCormack, one of the faces behind the family-owned business McCormack Harwood Sales, about an issue close to her heart, and how the timber supply industry can help.

Jane McCormack of McCormack Hardwood Sales, a Victorian-based company, has enjoyed a successful career within the timber supply industry for 14 years alongside her husband and Co-Founder/Director Phil McCormack, often juggling a variety of business roles between them.

It was during April 2012 when Jane’s life was met with an unexpected personal challenge, being diagnosed with breast cancer, an unmistakably life-changing moment for Jane and her family.

Even though Jane has been in remission for over a year now, this industry identity was not done fighting yet.

“Between Phil and myself we’ve lost about six girlfriends over the last ten years and probably another six male friends from cancer,” Jane recalled.

The scary reality for Phil and Jane was that, while they had been lucky to come out the other side, some of those closest to them hadn’t been so fortunate.

It was then that Jane decided to make it her mission to do all she could in the fight against cancer, raising optimism around her that one day there will be a cure.

Working with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Jane will again be participating in The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers Walk event from 28 February – 1 March 2015.

Only the event’s second year, the 60 km walk is part of a huge effort by participants to band together and unite for a cause that has, more often than not, affected each and every one of them directly.

Following the inaugural walk in 2014, more than $3.6m was raised for cancer research, a point that Jane was quick to make as well as the staggering fact that 100 per cent of the donations raised by the walkers are going directly to the research centre.

Each walker must raise $2000 to participate in the walk, and with potentially 11 walkers in Jane’s 2015 team, the potential for funding to be raised is significant.

The 60 km walk takes place over a weekend, and all sorts of people with varying fitness levels, including individuals even in wheelchairs, are able to participate, promoting the inclusive spirit of the event.

“Some people were even on crutches last year participating in the walk! It shows just how many people have been touched by cancer, whether it be a friend, relative and so on,” Jane added.

As Jane prepares to walk again, she mentioned how thankful she is already for the overwhelmingly supportive timber industry, with several major sponsors getting behind the cause already including; Ryan McNulty Sawmills, Australian Sustainable Hardwoods, Fenning Bairnsdale, McCormack Hardwood Sales, The Blind Factory and a generous anonymous donor.

“We’re not looking for people to give as generously as others have done, any donation will help,” Jane said.

This means a contribution today will have an immediate impact in the fight against cancer. The funds raised will help Peter Mac’s clinicians and researchers to improve cancer detection, and to find gentler and more personalised treatments for women with cancer.

During the period of going to print, one of Jane’s friends with cancer mentioned in the article on her online donation page sadly passed away.

For Jane, this recent news only reinforces the importance of awareness and a need for a cure.If you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause and assist Jane and her walking team reach their donation goal, you can do so by hopping online at endcancer.org.au and clicking “Melbourne” and “Donate”, and then entering “Team Macs” into the search field.