Louise Davidson

Breast cancer fundraiser

2015 VIC Local Hero

When Louise Davidson’s three daughters were little, they gave her a special card every Mother’s Day that read: “Dear Mum, Happy Mother’s Day Classic.” Louise co-founded Australia’s largest national fun run and breast cancer fundraising event after her mother passed away from the disease.  What started as a ‘walk in the park’ in 1998 has since grown into a major national community event, attracting 135,000 participants and raising $4.5 million in 2014 alone.  With the help of her Women in Super colleagues, Louise worked as a volunteer event manager while bringing up young children.  Today, an investment manager in the superannuation industry, Louise is voluntary Chair and remains an intrinsic part of the management team.  Louise’s vision, passion and determination inspires a team of six staff and an enormous group of volunteers who have raised $24.3 million over 16 years.  Louise has created a celebration of spirit and hope which funds research projects that are making a massive impact on the quality of life of thousands of Australians.