LATEST ON FUND RAISING!

Organiser of the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run, Annie Chapman, today announced that her now famous Pink Ladies have achieved their goal of raising £104,000 this year to bring the grand total of the Run to one million pounds.

But this is not the end.

Annie said: “Thanks to the incredible generosity of those who have supported the Run this year, money continues to come in. Although beyond my wildest dreams a few weeks ago, it looks as though we will go well beyond £104,000.

“I will not know the final total until the beginning of September but, for now, we all have cause to celebrate!”

Annie added: “This cannot be the end of the journey. It is a big step forward but the road to successfully diagnosing and treating breast cancer is a long one. We must keep the wheels turning!”

A record number of ladies took part in this year’s Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run on a 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk.

With the event racing towards a fundraising total of £1m, a convoy of 201 ladies swathed in pink took to 197 decorated tractors to mark the 20th anniversary of this iconic event.

To date, the event has raised £896,000 in aid of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal and this year the Pink Ladies hope to raise the £104,000 needed to reach £1m – and they are on track to achieve it.

Thousands of people packed the route while family and friends joined the ladies at a picnic lunch in sunshine at Gawdy Hall meadow just outside Harleston.

Organiser Annie Chapman was driving one of the oldest tractors on the run – a 1950 David Brown Cropmaster – she said: “Organising the Ladies’ Tractor Road Run has not been without its challenges, to put it mildly! But any doubts as to whether it was all worthwhile were completely dispelled on what was a perfect day for me.

“I cannot describe how special it was to be surrounded by all my Pink Ladies, many of them new, to have the strength of our incredible back-up team behind me, to be uplifted by the many hundreds of well-wishers cheering round the route and, at the end of the day, to realise, on our 20th Anniversary, that we really are on target to take our grand total to £1million.

“Of course, I am extremely proud of the Ladies’ Tractor Road Run, but I am also constantly humbled by the kindness and generosity that surrounds us.”

People turned out to cheer the ladies on along the route 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.

Laura Middleton-Hughes was taking part for the third time, she said: “Taking part in the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run is an incredible and emotional day. This was my third year taking part and seeing so many more tractors on the street and seeing thousands come out in support of a cause very close to my heart, shows how many people this disease touches.

“Cancer has been part of my life now for just over nine years, being diagnosed myself aged 25 in 2014. I then sadly had it come back in 2016 as secondaries (incurable) to my bones. I have been on medication since to keep me here, but I don’t know how long it will work for.

“A huge thank you to everyone who took part or sponsored money towards the fundraising, as it really does help people like me.”

Sophia France, Cancer Research UK’s Relationship Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk, was taking part for the first time, she said: “Fundraising for Cancer Research UK is vital to us beating cancer, as 1 in 2 of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime.

“Unfortunately, my grandmother recently lost her battle with breast cancer, and as a result of this and the continued Pink Ladies’ support for Breast Cancer research, I felt inspired to finally participate myself.

“To say that I am so ecstatic to have taken part does not even begin to describe the magnitude of how much I enjoyed the run. I will never forget the feeling of being surrounded by so many beautifully pink, fierce women in all their glory.

“The sight of the public crowding the streets is a memory that I will cherish forever.” The total raised from this year’s event will be announced on September 8th, 2023.

Annie Chapman said: “As with any event of this size it cannot be achieved without the support of many people. I would like to thank everyone involved, all the drivers, all the people who lend tractors, the land-owners, the many marshals, collecting ladies and anyone else who helps to make this event happen, it’s a large team effort!”

To donate online please visit https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/unite/pink-ladies-tractor-road- run-2023

A new book, charting the rise of the Pink Ladies Tractor Run and the stories behind the ladies who take part and those who support the event has just been published to help the race to £1m.

‘The Pink Ladies’ reveals the story of the run over its 20 years and features a compilation of many stories – some funny, some emotional.

It is available for £10 from Robinson’s Traditional Stationers in Harleston, CopyDiss in Diss or online here https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk

To find out more about the run visit https://www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk/

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