Harness racing’s terrific Team Teal has put the spotlight on ovarian cancer since 2010 and it will be at its brightest this week, as the sport builds up to Saturday’s Night At The Trots at Tabcorp Park Melton.
WomenCan’s Karen Livingstone and proud Team Teal drivers Alicia Harrison, Grace Panella, Dani Hill and Chloe Butler joined SEN Track’s Trots Life today to spruik the initiative.
Ms Livingstone is the Head of Fundraising and Development of WomenCan, which supports the Australian New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group, and said Team Teal had raised more than $2 million since its inception.
“That is an oustanding effort by the harness racing community, it is so amazing that they have come together and are actually really making a difference,” she said.
“(They’re) having conversations in their communities about ovarian cancer and what Team Teal is doing and why it is so important. It is an amazing campaign by the harness racing community and industry, supported by Tabcorp and their generosity.”
For more details about Saturday night’s Team Teal activities and to monitor the drivers’ progress click here
Ms Livingstone, who lost her mother and aunt to ovarian cancer, said raising awareness was particularly crucial because “we needed to stand up and we needed to let people know the symptoms, the risks, what women need to do to look after themselves”.
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO KAREN LIVINGSTONE ON TROTS LIFE:
And that’s exactly what harness racing’s talented reinswomen are doing every time they pull on the teal pants – raising awareness, as well as cash when they cross the line first.
This year more than $62,000 has already been raised across Australia (156 wins) and New Zealand (26 wins), with Victoria’s drivers leading the way with 50 wins.
That’s likely to only increase this Saturday night, when Team Teal is celebrated as part of Lyn McPherson Breed For Speed night, which includes the $100,000 TAB Australian Trotting Grand Prix.
But the influence now spreads far and wide as evidenced by today’s Trots Life, with patricipants from New Zealand (Alicia Harrison), New South Wales (Grace Panella), South Australia (Dani Hill) and Queensland (Chloe Butler) joining Melbourne host Toby McKinnon to share their experiences.
They can be heard below.
For more details about Saturday night’s Team Teal activities and to monitor the drivers’ progress click here
