By 2006 Coffs Harbour Racing Club had established a Ladies Day as part of its annual Calendar held in January each year. The concept was to offer a day to the ladies, families and children of the area during the annual Christmas/New Year holiday period. In September 2006 former Director Dennis McCann’s daughter, Brooke McCann put a proposal to the club to create a Women’s fundraiser event that cou
ld grow annually with its sole purpose being to raise funds for Breast Cancer research and support. This idea was formed in memory of Miss McCann’s mother who had passed away in January 2003 from Breast Cancer. The original committee wanted to see more awareness, funding for research and assistance for sufferers and those recovering from treatment - and felt a great way to do this would be a day at the races that was also a celebration of Life and survival. The concept was a hard sell in the beginning, as it was new - and the gambling side stopped many from participating. But thankfully to some great and generous supporters and their commitment to our community, it has rapidly grown to become a huge success. Originally Pink Silks was to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer only and all funds were sent to national research institutes. It was then apparent that there are so many other women health issues, where local awareness was needed to be focussed and equipment bought to support them. We now have an annual submission form, where different groups that treat or support women’s health issues, can be potential beneficiaries. By the fifth year the committee realised that the impact these funds have on our community and the support they were receiving from people attending the race day, that they branched into Pink Silks merchandise. Each beneficiary supplies 10 volunteers for the day, to support the merchandise tables, raffle items and promote the day. Everyone is encouraged to wear pink and over the years they have seen more and more men wear the colour of the day. The merchandise has also provided an avenue for those to support the day financially and have something pink in their possession. The inaugural Committee quoted to the press “With over 12,000 women in Australia being diagnosed with breast cancer each year – through race sponsorship, race book advertising, hospitality packages sold, donations & fund-raising on race day, we’re hoping we can raise in excess of $10,000″
Knowing that very few people have not been touched either directly or indirectly by the disease the Racing Club was overjoyed to be able to help create such a worthy event.
• The first Pink Silks committee met on 16 September 2006.
• The Committee comprised of women who had all been affected by Breast Cancer: Brooke McCann, Sherryn Tutt, Vashti Broadbent (nee Stewart), Tanya Johnson (nee Slaviero), Vicky Hunter, Lee Millard & Krista Smith.
• The First Pink Silks Ladies Day was held Sunday 14th January 2007
• The inaugural recipients of funds to be raised were:
National Breast Cancer Foundation; Breast Cancer Network Australia; National Breast Cancer Centre & Dragons Abreast Australia.
• The inaugural event exceeded all expectations the money raised for those recipients was over $25,000!!!!
• Since its inception Pink Silks Ladies Day and the associated events throughout the year has raised over $530,000 in ten years (at January 2016).
• The majority of all funds raised have been used to aid research, purchase equipment or help fund local organizations and support groups helping to support local women in our area. They now hold an ongoing trust account to access funds throughout the year to allocate to any local organization/group that will benefit women’s health and breast cancer treatment. This includes everything from breast cancer research to local support groups to expensive, state-of-the-art equipment for Coffs Harbour Health Campus hospital. It is a remarkable effort by a remarkable group of women and the local community. The focus of the day is family, community and the contribution everyone can make to those women undergoing treatment. The money predominantly stays in our local community to purchase capital equipment or to fund courses for women that help them progress on their post treatment or surgery journey. The annual Event is held in January each year - the theme is pink, and as each year passes, more and more people come dressed in pink. It’s wonderful. The day consists of races, fashion on the field, kids’ activities, merchandise sales, raffles and an auction. The auction is approximately 15-20 items that are mainly experiences that people can’t by. Coffs Harbour Pink Silks Perpetual Trust tries to ensure the communities donations benefit as many women as possible, over as many years as possible, as they have a responsibility to those who have kindly donated to the cause. It’s 7 women that form the committee in a voluntary role, and they work together with the Coffs Harbour Racing Club, to provide a unique charity day. Every second year they contribute $10,000 to a national breast cancer research institute - an important and essential need in developing better treatments and hopefully one day a cure. The day is also to show those women fighting the battle that they are supported on a community level, as some women are every much alone in their journey. For those not courageous enough to don PINK, there is Pink Silks merchandise- stubby holders, polo shirts, drink bottles etc. As of 2014, the group is now a registered charity and have a trust fund for beneficiaries that require urgent help throughout the year. Each year the beneficiaries have to submit an application for funds with what will be purchased and the need. The Pink Silks committee and board of CHRC assess and decide which group requires the funds the most. Each year is a new beginning for all, so the funds can be distributed fairly in the areas of need, for that coming year. The message we send on the day as a community is that we are all here to support each one of those people that are undergoing breast cancer treatment. The other reason is that Pink Silks race day is a fun, family and community orientated event. When you are going through any major treatment, some days are harder than others, and you want one day to forget your constant fight for survival. You want a day which is fun and surrounded by those you love and that day motivates you to keep fighting. This is the real meaning of the Pink Silks Race day and the fundraising is the bonus to provide what is needed locally to make the fight and recovery much easier. Organisations that Pink Silks Ladies Day have now and continue to support include:
National: National Breast Cancer Foundation; National Breast Cancer Centre; Breast Cancer Network Australia; Love Your Sister – Garvan Research;
Local Organisations: Titivators; Dragons Abreast; Cancer Council NSW – Coffs Dancing with the Stars; CH Women’s Health Centre – Gynaecological Cancer; CanDo Trust Foundation; YWCA – Encore; Lymphoedema Support Group;
Coffs Harbour Health Campus: Palliative Care Unit; ICU – ventilator; CH Medical Oncology Unit; Maternity Unit; North Coast Breast Screen; North Coast Cancer Inst – Head & Neck Cancers; North Coast Cancer Inst – Look Good, Feel Good; Young & Breastless Trust; CH Women’s Health Centre – Post Natal Depression; Coffs Harbour Regional Cancer Services; Coffs Harbour Health Campus - ED
The Pink Silks Ladies Day Committee is always looking for and open to applications for beneficiaries to allocate funds to. They welcome all applicants that offer breast Cancer research or related assistance or any local women’s health programs for the Coffs Coast region
