Shepparton is set to paint the town pink

Shepparton Harness Racing Club is set to paint the town pink this Sunday in order to raise some much-needed funds for the McGrath Foundation.

The major Pacing for Pink fundraiser will be a fun day out for the whole family with an entrée of harness racing action.

Leading the charge is trainer-driver Donna Castles, who has a close connection to the cause.

“I was invited to Cobram (Pacing for Pink) to drive for Marg (Watson) and about three weeks after that I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so that made things a little bit scary,” Castles said. “The next year I said to Marg (Watson) and Bob (Watson), ‘let’s make this a little bit bigger.’

“The following year we had a holiday to raffle off and the next year we had a car, and it’s just grown from there.”

Shepparton’s Pacing for Pink gathering has continued to grow year on year, with this Sunday’s event set to be bigger again.

“We have got raffles running all day, we have got silent auctions and jumping castles for the kids,” Castles said.

“We have also got face painting, coffee and ice-cream vans and you can also get a baked meal. It’s just a fun day out where you can help raise funds for a great cause and have some fun at the trots.”

Ambassador and Director of the McGrath Foundation, Tracy Bevan, will be in attendance, while Paul Campbell is set to MC the event.

During the afternoon, senior drivers will re-live their youth and get back in the sulky of a pony.

“Kids will auction up their pony with all funds going to the McGrath Foundation. A senior driver will drive their pony and last year Michael Bellman won,” Castles said.

A splash of colour will also be on show, with the likes of Alex Ashwood and Kate Gath donning the pink pants alongside 86 other senior drivers and 18 pony trot participants who are supporting the cause through May.

“All the states are jumping on board with all the clubs having their own raffles as well,” Castles said.

“Your mum, your sister, your brother, your child. Someone you know has either had breast cancer or has been in contact with someone in their family who has it as well.

“It affects everyone in all different ways, and it is exactly the same as Team Teal. Cancer touches us in all different ways and the more funds we can have to have more nurses and to have more awareness in the harness racing community would be amazing.”

May is Pacing For Pink month throughout Australia, a movement that started in Cobram in 2011, went state-wide in 2021 and has since gone around the country.

Money raised is in support of the McGrath Breast Care Nurses, who are registered nurses specially trained to manage the care of people with breast cancer throughout their treatment.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria