The remarkable Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run has raised a record-breaking amount following this year’s event.
On Friday night, organisers announced this year’s fundraising total of £201,000 at their annual celebration evening.
The phenomenal sum was announced for the first time at a cheque presentation in front of hundreds of supporters including this year’s Pink Ladies, the support crew, marshals and wider team who gathered to celebrate the staggering amount raised.
The first Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run took place in 2004 and this year’s collection takes the total raised over their 20-year history to more than £1,097,000 – all in aid of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
In the days following this year’s Run, organiser Annie Chapman announced that due to the extraordinary fundraising efforts of her Pink Ladies they had already achieved their goal of raising the £104,000 needed to bring the grand total of the Run to one million pounds.
In the weeks that followed monies continued to be donated and this year’s community effort has seen the team not just break their fundraising record for a year, but more than double it.
Annie said: “2023 is a year I’ll never forget. When I asked my Pink Ladies to ‘go for a million’ the response was like a cork popping from a bottle of champagne. We had to raise £104,000 – £20,000 more than our previous best.
“Suddenly fundraising events and activities were happening all over the place. There seemed no end to the energy and enthusiasm of the Ladies, their families, friends and supporters.
“Offers of contribution started to arrive from other clubs and organisations. Individual sponsors were unbelievably generous. Most movingly, collections following the funerals of three friends and supporters of the Run were dedicated to the Pink Ladies.
“Well, we got to our £104,000 and our twenty-year total of one million pounds. But then it became clear that something remarkable was happening. The money just kept flooding in until we hit the spectacular total of £201,000!
“There are no words of thanks that seem adequate but, still, I must offer my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made our 20th anniversary so very special.
“And, yes, there will be a road run next year because the research into improved treatment for breast cancer must go on.”
At the presentation, Annie was joined by Pink Lady Jane Roderick-Jones to present the cheque to Myles Godfrey, Senior Manager at Cancer Research UK.
Before presenting the cheque, Jane said: “198 tractors took part this year and the story of how it started with a few friends to the fundraising movement we have today, is astonishing and encouraging.
“We have to pay tribute to everybody who has contributed over the years, great and small. And to those who have been affected, the survivors and loved ones and those we have lost along the way.
On receiving the cheque on behalf of Cancer Research UK, Myles 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.
“It is my genuine honour to be here tonight to celebrate £1m and 20 years.
“I genuinely didn’t know how much this cheque was going to be for and in the 18 years I’ve worked at CRUK I’ve never heard of a cash collection at any event in central England that was higher than your cash collection this year.
“Your strength as a community is remarkable. Please let me bottle this and I will spray it all over the country.
“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. Thank you to Annie, she is a living legend at CRUK.”
To those gathered, Annie said: “I’m very humbled by Myles’ words, it’s team work and you are all part of that team.”
This year’s Run took place on Sunday 2nd July, marking the 20th anniversary of the event – one which has become a landmark for the team.
A record 201 women swathed in pink took to 198 decorated tractors to wind their way on a 20-mile route through South Norfolk and North Suffolk.
Thousands of people packed the route, cheering on the Pink Ladies in towns, villages, laybys and gardens.
Houses and businesses were bedecked in pink bunting, banners and flags and many supporters were dressed head-to-toe in pink.
For more information about the event please visit www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk
