Qld harness racing goes teal for cancer research

Queensland’s harness racing industry is taking up the reins for “Team Teal” again in 2021
to raise funds for ovarian cancer research.

Racing Minister Grace Grace today announced that, from February 1 to March 14, $200 will be donated to ovarian and gynaecological cancer research every time a  Queensland reinswoman drives a winner in the Sunshine State.

“Nearly 6500 Australian women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every year, including around 1500 with ovarian cancer,” she said.

“Every dollar that the industry raises helps to fund another research nurse to join the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group and their ground-breaking education and prevention program.

“Last year, the Queensland industry raised more than $28,000 of the $164,000-plus raised across Australia and NZ and it would great to see more women winners generate more funds.”

The Team Teal campaign was created by Victorian trainer Duncan McPherson OAM who lost his wife Lyn to ovarian cancer in 2010.

It runs for six weeks in Australia and New Zealand and raises funds to support research nurses to help women take part in new and innovative clinical trials.

Funds also support the Survivors Teaching Students education and prevention program that brings ovarian cancer survivors into the classrooms of medical and allied health students to share information about ovarian cancer symptoms, a women’s path to diagnosis and their challenges of living with cancer.

In Queensland, Racing Queensland, the Albion Park Harness Racing Club, and the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club are funding the winning donations and reinswomen will wear teal pants throughout the six weeks of the campaign.

During this year’s campaign, teenaged drivers Chloe Butler from Logan Village and the Locker Valley’s Taleah McMullen will serve as ambassadors, wearing team teal silks in addition to their teal pants.

The Queensland campaign will conclude with the Ladies Invitational event at Albion Park on Saturday, March 13.

“Racing Queensland is proud to be involved with its clubs, Principal Racing Authorities and Harness Racing Australia in delivering the Team Teal campaign for another year,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.

“It is fantastic to see the industry’s willingness to fundraise - and support – such an important cause; it is extremely heartening and demonstrates everything that is great about our industry.

“I urge all participants to give what they can– every dollar counts.”

Mr McPherson co-founded the campaign with fellow harness owners Michael Taranto and Jim Connelly as a way to associate their passion of racing with the cause to fund clinical research nurses and the Survivors Teaching Students education and prevention program.

“What Team Teal have achieved over the last decade is a testament to the entire harness racing industry and their unwavering commitment to raise funds for a vital cause,” Mr Parnell said.

“Lyn McPherson would be unbelievably proud of what has been done in her honour over the past decade.”

For more information on Team Teal visit https://www.womencan.org.au/event/team-teal-racing/home

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