The iconic Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run is set to return in style this year after raising more than £1m for charity.
This year will mark the event’s 20th run as women sign up to drive the 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk on a convoy of decorated tractors swathed in pink.
Last year’s event was iconic for the team as they raised £201,000 in a single year to smash through a total of over £1m raised in aid of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
Applications are now open for women to take part and organiser Annie Chapman said: “What an amazing achievement for a bunch of ladies on tractors, to have raised over £1million in 20 years for Cancer Research UK for breast cancer research!
“But cancer hasn’t gone away so we must continue to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.
“Entries are starting to come in for this year’s run with already quite a few new ladies. Fundraising has already begun with events including cake stalls, car boot sales, a dog show, bingo nights and quizzes.”
Each year, thousands of people line the route, cheering on the Pink Ladies in towns, villages, laybys and gardens. Houses and businesses are bedecked in pink bunting, banners and flags and many supporters dress in head-to-toe pink.
Pink Lady, Audrey Alexander from Bush Green said: “I have been taking part in the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run since 2005 and it’s firmly written in my diary every year, it’s such a wonderful thing to do, raising money to help find a cure for breast cancer.
“I enjoy getting my tractor dressed up in pink, it’s covered in anything pink from pigs to bows. The tractor I take is a grey Massey Ferguson which was the first tractor purchased by my late father-in-law to be used on the farm. After its useful life it was left in the nettles, but it was resurrected by my husband and son and it’s helped to raise a lot of money over the years.
“Taking part in the run on the day is a happy and sad experience. It’s very emotional as we drive through Harleston but also very rewarding as you return to Thorpe Abbotts airfield. Meeting family for the picnic lunch is also brilliant.”
The route starts at Thorpe Abbotts airfield before heading through Thorpe Abbotts, Brockdish and Upper Weybread, arriving in Harleston at about 12.30pm, before stopping for lunch between 1pm and 3pm at Gawdy Hall Meadow, Redenhall to which everyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch.
The route back to Thorpe Abbotts airfield heads through Pulham St. Mary, Rushall, Langmere Green and back to the airfield.
Each year about a quarter of the ladies taking part are new to the event with many having never driven a tractor before.
Kath Jones will be taking part in this year’s run for the eighth time and is organising a Pink Bingo Night ahead of the event. She said: “I have followed the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run since it started in 2004. I remember seeing the first run go passed my mum’s house in Pulham St Mary and we were intrigued by it. There were only about 20 or 30 tractors then. As the years progressed the run became bigger, and the tractors got more imaginative.
“I first did the run in 2017 after collecting for the event. The cause is such a worthy one and we all knew someone who had been affected by cancer. Two friends of mine had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer so that also inspired me to get involved and raise funds.
“I borrow a red Massey Ferguson 135 (1967), generously lent to me. The theme of my tractor decoration is pink cuddly toys, and I can’t go into a charity shop without looking out for anything pink. Basically, I work on the principle of ‘more is more’ when it comes to decorating the tractor.”
Last year a record-breaking 201 women took to 195 tractors for the run and were greeted by thousands of supporters who turned out along the route. The total of £201,000 raised was a record for a single year of fundraising.
The incredible total was raised by the ladies who took part in the event, money collected on the day from supporters who gathered along the route and fundraising activities following the tractor run.When presented with last year’s cheque, Myles Godfrey, Senior Manager at Cancer Research UK said: “In all the years at Cancer Research UK I’ve never been so inspired by a community coming together to make such a difference.
“Your strength as a community is remarkable. 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and the research funding you give us saves more lives.
“Every penny makes a difference and one penny will buy a scientific slide for research scientists to use. One day 1p will save someone’s life and one day it will lead to a cure. Two in four people survive cancer but by 2034 we want three in four to survive.”
Annie said: “As with any event of this size it cannot be achieved without the support of many people. I would like to express my thanks to all tractor owners, landowners, the many marshals, collecting ladies and anyone else who helps to make this event happen, it’s a large team effort!”
Donations for this year’s event can be made via https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/pink-ladies-tractor-road-run-2024
The 2024 Ladies’ Tractor Road Run takes place on Sunday 7th July. For more information about the event please visit www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk
