Quinlan proud of Team Teal campaign’s reach

Jodi Quinlan has been involved with Team Teal since day dot and says she is enormously proud of the campaign’s reach in 2020.

Speaking with Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Trots Media on Saturday night, Quinlan recalled the ovarian cancer and fundraising initiative kicked off with “a set of colours”.

Six years one the powerful message has been embraced not only nationally with women drivers in all Australian harness racing states now wearing teal pants, but also into New Zealand.

“It’s a privilege to be involved. I was one of the fortunate ones to start off with it with a set of colours and form there we’ve gone to pants and sulkies and it’s gone global now, which is really rewarding,” Quinlan said.

“My mother was diagnosed with the disease about 10 years ago and she’s one of the lucky ones touch wood, she’s been a survivor. It’s a killer disease and it creeps up on people before they realise it so I hope everyone out there can dig deep and give to Team Teal.”

At Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night HRV officially launched another Team Teal campaign, teaming up with wagering partner Tabcorp to donate $400 for every ‘teal’ winner during the campaign period (February 1 to March 15).

As of this morning $4000 has been donated by the HRV/TAB team via 10 Team Teal winners, with Ellen Tormey (x2), Kylie Sugars, Kate Gath, Kerryn Manning, Lisa Miles, Shannon O’Sullivan, Anne-Maree Conroy, Kima Frenning and Rebecca Bartley all driving at least one winner since the weekend launch.

“HRV is proud to have been involved with the Team Teal campaign since the very beginning. It’s a wonderful initiative and it’s so important because it’s promoting the work of ANZGOG (Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group), and our drivers are so committed to this, which is great to see,” HRV Board member Judy Rothacker said.

“Harness racing has promoted Team Teal in every possible way and Duncan McPherson has just been wonderful with all his work behind the scenes and we’re very grateful for what he does as well.”

Monique Burnett, who is one of HRV’s Team Teal ambassadors alongside Quinlan, Kate Gath, Kerryn Manning, Jackie Barker, Rothacker and Pony Trots driver Courtney Laker, said she was proud to be wearing teal.

“Harness racing in Australia and New Zealand has done such an amazing job to get this message out there and raise awareness and do as much as we can for Duncan and Lyn and every other person who is dealing with such a horrible thing,” Burnett said.

ANZGOG CEO Alison Evans described harness racing and McPherson’s commitment to the cause as “just amazing” and added the campaign “enabled more research across a whole lot of sites in city, regional and remote areas, where women can be treated for ovarian cancer”.

Tabcorp Park Melton and HRV will again host the Team Teal major fundraiser on Saturday night February 29, an event which everyone in the industry is encouraged to support.

“We need to raise as much money as we can and I encourage everyone to come along on the 29th and bring your friends,” Rothacker said.

HRV Trots Media – Cody Winnell