Vital funds raised during Pink Ribbon Raceweek

By Jordan Gerrans

Pink Ribbon Cup founder Robyn Cameron says she continues to be blown away by the racing industry’s generosity as the 2024 Pink Ribbon Raceweek raised close to $400,000.

The week included a special race meet across all three codes to raise money for breast cancer research, with the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club hosting their meeting on September 19, along with harness racing at Albion Park and the thoroughbred meeting at the Gold Coast Turf Club, both on September 21.

On top of those three feature race meetings, there were contributions from the Toowoomba Turf Club, Sunshine Coast Turf Club, Townsville Greyhound Racing Club and Racing Queensland, among others. 

A total of $380,568 was raised across the week of activities with $253,613 coming directly from Gold Coast’s Pink Ribbon Raceday.

Among the fundraising initiatives this year included the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s Pink Ribbon Raceday that included the opportunity to win a brand-new Mini Garage.

The fundraising initiative raised $77,000 to the overall total.

“It is humongous amount – it is awesome the money we have raised,” Cameron said.

“It will be able to make a significant impact on the research for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and their funds.

“That will go into funding life-changing research that will target detection, treatment and a cure.

“The ultimate goal is no more deaths from breast cancer by 2030.”

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines said 2024’s Pink Ribbon Raceday was hugely successful.

“We had about 4,500 people, probably the most successful by way of attendance we’ve ever had for that day,” Lines said.

“Everyone was out in pink, it was all very positive and hugely well supported by the Gold Coast community.”

The feature Pink Ribbon Cup was claimed by Adam Campton’s Catwalk Criminal with promising apprentice Emily Lang in the saddle.

The Cup was run as a Fillies and Mares Benchmark 85 Handicap with Campton remarking he thinks the five-year-old mare has a promising future.

The Pink Ribbon Cup victory was the fourth of her career from just nine starts.

Campton is the reigning premiership-winning conditioner on the Gold Coast. 

Campton revealed leading into the race that his mother Trish was diagnosed with cancer earlier in her life and fought off the disease.

“She’s pretty special this horse,” Campton said.

“She was the sort of horse who I always thought had a lot of talent.

“This horse has still got a lot to learn and hopefully we can keep her sound and she wins more races for us.”

Starting in 2008, the Pink Ribbon Cup at the Gold Coast remains Australia’s largest official community fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Cameron admits she gets emotional when she reflects on how much the event has grown over the years.

“The amount raised is in line with what we raised in 2023,” Cameron said.

“It shows even during these times where people are struggling with the cost of living that people are impacted by breast cancer in some way and they are still prepared to go the extra mile and keep funding this research.

“The Gold Coast event sold out much earlier than what we normally do, so our numbers for the function in 2024 were up.

“Our official National Breast Cancer Foundation function at the Gold Coast went from 739 people in 2023 to 866 in 2024.

“The response has been amazing – it was really great.”

Planning has begun for the 2025 iteration of the event with Cameron noting she was already engaging with sponsors and people keen to be involved.

In the other codes, the Pink Ribbon Cup for greyhounds was claimed by Daysea's Chief’s from the Claude Dacey kennel.

Also at Albion Park, the prolific Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen team scored in the harness Pink Ribbon Cup as Where The Boys Are landed victory.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in Australia, with 57 women and men diagnosed every day – and one in seven women being diagnosed in their lifetime.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s goal is zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.

Click here to find out how you can get involved with the 2025 Pink Ribbon Cup.