Lady drivers to wear teal to raise ovarian cancer awareness

Lady drivers will wear teal driving pants between February 1 and March 12 in NSW

EVERY female driver in New South Wales will be wearing teal coloured driving pants from February 1 to March 12 to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer.  Each time a female driver wins a race during the period, HRNSW will donate $200 to the Women’s Cancer Foundation – Ovarian Cancer Institute with corporate partner TAB matching the donation.

More than 70% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will not survive and there is no early detection test available.  Harness Racing Victoria has worked closely with the Women’s Cancer Foundation for several years and HRNSW has been welcomed aboard in an attempt to broaden the reach of the important message being delivered.

In addition, three leading female drivers – Lauren Panella, Emma Turnbull and Ellen Bartley - will wear Women’s Cancer Foundation silks from Monday until March 12 and will be ambassadors.

HRNSW Chief Executive congratulated all of the female drivers throughout NSW for supporting the initiative.

“HRNSW is proud to support the Women’s Cancer Foundation – Ovarian Cancer Institute.  It is currently striving to find an ovarian cancer vaccine and funds research nurses which in time will save the lives of women around the world,” Mr Dumesny said.

“There are 60 or so female drivers currently participating in the state and I want to thank them for getting behind this awareness campaign and hopefully together they can win a number of races between February 1 and March 12 because that will mean a large donation to the WCF.”

During the same period last year female drivers won 75 races in NSW and if that was to be repeated it would mean a $30,000 donation to the organisation.

“Harness racing is a sport that thrives on the success of the female participants, in recent years Amanda Turnbull and Lauren Panella have dominated the NSW driving premiership and with so many other successful women competing  it makes sense for HRNSW to be associated with such a cause.

“The teal pants have been sent right across the state, no one has been forgotten and with the Miracle Mile carnival set to be run next month it will mean so much more exposure for the cause.”

HRNSW will provide a daily update on the results of the female drivers on twitter and facebook.

Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 34 racing clubs across the State.  HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.