The annual Team Teal campaign will commence at The Creek today (1/2) with $200 to again be donated on every occasion a Queensland reinswoman drives a winner in the Sunshine State.
From February 1 through to March 13, the Queensland harness racing industry will again come together to raise funds for ovarian and other gynaecological cancer research, with various fundraising initiatives to be held over the next six weeks.
In conjunction with WomenCan, Team Teal donations will support the Australian and New Zealand Gynecological Oncology Group’s education and prevention program – Survivors Teaching Students – bringing ovarian cancer survivors into the classroom of medical students to share their experiences.
The funds will provide support for patients to access gynaecological cancer clinical trials, particularly in regional and remote areas, ensuring women have access to the best available care irrespective of where they live.
In addition to the winning donations - which are being co-funded by Racing Queensland, the Albion Park Harness Racing Club, and the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club - all Queensland reinswomen will wear special teal coloured pants to highlight the campaign.
Tabcorp has also confirmed that it will donate a further $200 for every triumph by a reinswoman around the country throughout the Team Teal campaign.
Team Teal 2021 ambassador Chloe Butler will once again lead the ladies, joined this year by Narissa McMullen, who will both sport the Team Teal silks in addition to the pants.
“What Team Teal continues to achieve is a testament to the entire harness racing industry and their unwavering commitment to raise funds for a vital cause, and we are thrilled to once again be involved in 2022,” RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“Team Teal continues to go from strength-to-strength here in Queensland, and we look forward to seeing this great cause championed over the coming six weeks.
“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.”
The Team Teal campaign was created by Duncan McPherson OAM, who lost his wife Lyn to ovarian cancer in 2010.
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.
Last year’s record-breaking Team Teal campaign saw 76 winning drives over the six weeks, resulting in $15,200 being donated - $400 more than in 2020.
Click here for more information on the 2022 Team Teal campaign.