The Inglis Horse Sales Complex at Oaklands Junction will host the annual harness racing yearling sales on February 2, but two lots will attract particular interest when they go through the ring, with a percentage of the sale prices to be donated to the Children’s Tumour Foundation (CTF) and WomenCan.

Both organisations are charity partners of the Follow A Foal project, a two-year initiative of Harness Breeders Victoria, which has documented and shared the progress of two mares and foals, owned respectively by leading Victorian studs Alabar Farm and Aldebaran Park.

The project will conclude after the sales when 5 per cent of the price each filly brings will be pooled with other funds raised since the inception of Follow A Foal and be split between CTF and WomenCan.

On Wednesday one of the fillies, Aldebaran Demi, got to meet two people her sale will help – Xavier Wynn, 6, of Shepparton, who has been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF) and whose family is supported by the Children’s Tumour Foundation, and Jane Power of Heidelberg, an ovarian cancer survivor who now works with WomenCan’s Survivors Teaching Students program. Jane tried her hand at a little leading practice with Demi, while Xavier was content to give her lots of pats.

Jane and Xavier’s mum Karla expressed how important projects like Follow A Foal are for their respective charities, in both fundraising and growing awareness of the support and programs that they offer.

Harness Breeders Victoria will be hosting a Follow A Foal marquee at the yearling sales to introduce anyone interested in the fillies or the charities to the sales and horse-breeding experience. Tours which include meeting the fillies will run from the marquee at 11.30am and 2pm, with the sale of the horses to take place approximately 10.45am and 5.20pm.

Karla Williams, mother of Xavier Wynn: “This sort of support makes so much difference to our lives, with CTF being able to fund more of the programs that really help us. We love the NF camps that they run; Xavier has attended one and it was great for him to meet other kids with NF and also just to have a fun weekend. He got to go on the giant flying fox, and saw lots of native wildlife. The support is also invaluable. They were amazing when Xavier was diagnosed. I don't know how I would have gotten through that day as well as I did without someone on the other end of that phone to cry to.”

Nick Hooper, President of Harness Breeders Victoria: “We saw this as a great opportunity to share what we love so much about breeding horses with a wider group in a way that also allowed us to help two charities that are really special to the harness racing family. We’ve been able to help a whole new group of people experience the excitement of waiting for the delivery, the joy in seeing the healthy fillies arrive and the fun of watching them grow so quickly over the last 18 months.”

Brett Coffey, General Manager of Alabar Farm: “Alabar couldn’t be happier in supporting HBV’s Follow A Foal initiative. Not only does it promote the breeding industry in Victoria but also two wonderful charities. When presented with the opportunity we knew that Arms Of An Angel (then in foal to American champion, Always B Miki) was the right choice given her high profile right across Australia.”

Jane Power, Volunteer of Survivors Teaching Students: “As a woman, wife, mother and friend, when I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, I felt a loss of control of my own boy and who I was. I felt numb learning that only 48% of women live beyond 5 years. Being involved with Survivors Teaching Students (STS) allows myself and other women and carers to be feel empowered sharing our stories with medical students and nurses to bring about earlier diagnoses. Ovarian Cancer in particular can have a very slow trajectory to diagnosis, sharing our stories imparts information and encourages our Doctors of the future to put Ovarian Cancer in their thoughts during diagnosis investigation opposed to a last resort.”