Team Teal returns for 2023

The annual Team Teal campaign is back in 2023, with six weeks of fundraising initiatives across the Queensland harness racing industry to help aid ovarian and other gynaecological cancer research.

From February 1 to March 15, the Queensland harness racing industry will unite to raise funds, with $200 to again be donated on every occasion a Queensland reinswoman drives a winner in the Sunshine State.

In conjunction with WomenCan, Team Teal donations will support the Australian and New Zealand Gynaecological 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 teal-coloured pants to highlight the campaign.

Tabcorp has also confirmed that it will contribute a further $200 for every triumph by a reinswoman around the country throughout the Team Teal campaign. 

RQ CEO Brendan Parnell said that RQ is delighted to be associated with Team Teal once again in 2023, taking the reins to help women with ovarian cancer.

“Two out of three women die from ovarian cancer, and only 49% of Australian women diagnosed will survive five years," Mr Parnell said.

“In 2022, we raised over $13,000, and I am hoping we can go bigger again this year while this great cause is championed over the next 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.

“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.”

Taleah McMullen and Jordan Topping will lead the ladies as Queensland’s 2023 Team Teal ambassadors, both donning the Team Teal silks.

“It’s a great privilege to be an ambassador - you definitely wear the colours with pride and you want to get as many winners as possible to raise awareness and money that they really need,” McMullen said.

“I love being part of it and love wearing the colours, and I think all the owners and trainers that you drive for, when you wear the colours they love it as well, and they like to get behind the cause.

“Ovarian cancer it’s one of those things that is pretty scary as well because once you find out, it can be a bit too late, there’s no screen testing for ovarian cancer.

“It’s a pretty daunting thing so hopefully we can raise some funds and do anything we can to help out some of the females with ovarian cancer and make it a little easier for them.”

RQ Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick said he was delighted to have Taleah and Jordan on board as ambassadors in 2023.

“The McMullen team have been supporters and ambassadors for a number of years, and it’s great to have Taleah back involved again this year,” he said.

“It’s also great to have Jordan, another up-and-coming driver involved here in Queensland

“We’re so rapt to have her involved and I’m sure she’s looking forward to driving winners and also raising awareness of the Team Teal campaign and WomenCan.”

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.

Click here for more information on the 2023 Team Teal campaign.