Following Ali Clarke revealing her breast cancer diagnosis to listeners earlier this week, Mix102.3 has confirmed Hayley Pearson will be stepping into the show.
Pearson will fill in for Clarke while she steps away from the show to undergo a mastectomy. At this stage, it is unknown the length of her further treatment and recovery time.
“I’ve known Hayley for years and when she left brekkie radio, she said she would never get up early again,” Clarke said.
“For her to come out of ‘retirement’ for me and our listeners fills me with joy. I could not have hoped for a better person to keep Max in line.”
Pearson is currently the co-host of Channel 9’s HelloSA, co-creator of Adelady and has previously worked on breakfast radio at Nova and SAFM.
Pearson said: “The first thing I thought of was ALL the people Ali has helped over the years with a cancer diagnosis. She has been an absolute star to these people and their families and I know that everyone who knows her, loves her, or listens to her on radio would drop everything just to help.
“I said I’d never do brekky radio again, but the sisterhood is powerful and Ali is the only reason I’d come back. I will keep her seat warm while she heals.”
Pearson’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years ago.
“I also have friends in their 30s and 40s currently undergoing treatment, so breast cancer is something really close to me — and coincidently a few days before I found out about Ali, we’d just raised over half a million dollars for breast cancer research here in SA.
“I’ve always said in radio ‘we’re not saving lives’ but by Ali being so raw and honest by sharing her story, she actually might.”
Max Burford, Clarke’s co-host, added: “Our listeners will know full well that Ali runs a tight ship. My ship is slightly less rigid and more prone to deviations. So it’s a great relief to have a pro like Hayley who can seamlessly fit in and keep the show pointing in the right direction while Ali fights the good fight.”
Pearson will be joining Max and Ali in the Morning from Monday 29 July.