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The Canberra Racing Club is proud to announce the return of the Canberra Community Chest, a special race that will see 12 local charities and community groups unite with 12 equine heroes for their share of a $50,000 charity chest.
To be held on Sunday, 24 November, the Canberra Community Chest will be run as a Quality Open Handicap over 1400m and is worth $250,000, with a $200,000 prizemoney pool and $50,000 to be shared between the 12 charity and community partners with a meaningful connection to the Canberra region.
Winners of the inaugural event in 2023, Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Care, have welcomed the news with Chief Executive Wayne Simpson particularly excited.
"The Canberra Community Chest brings together some great charities & groups to celebrate all that we do.
" "None of the groups could meet their mission without the support of the community and teaming up with Thoroughbred Park and these magnificent equine superheroes just makes sense."
"Whilst we all get to compete for valuable prize money we mingle with likeminded people and our deeds are championed to the community."
After their equine partner, the aptly named Super Helpful, won the inaugural Canberra Community Chest, Rise Above received the winning prize of $25,000 which has greatly assisted their important work.
"This contribution enabled us to support the growing number of cancer patients we support and directly it supported an additional 10 individual and families."
"This contribution is the equivalent to 125 food vouchers, or covered 80 bill payments, or covering the initial fertility preservation costs for 50 patients."
"Indirectly the money took a bit of pressure off our fabulous volunteers who back up month in month out to raise funds for those in need. It was the equivalent of the profit from cooking and selling 12,500 sausage sandwiches or looking at it another way it put 250-300 hours back into our volunteers' lives."
Simpson, driven by the success of Rise Above's participation in 2023, will be lodging an application again in 2024.
"We're the defending champions!" Simpson said. "The support of Thoroughbred Park was fantastic, they have proven the event should exist in the community calendar, and it will only grow from the inaugural event."
"If selected this year we intend to involve the patients, we support and volunteers to a greater extent on the day because it is the perfect event to connect with others and to profile the charity, for the patients it can provide a bit of normality. On top of that it is an exciting event and a fun day!"
An independent selection panel will select 10 partners with Pegasus Riding for the Disabled an automatic selection after their horse was scratched from the race in 2023. All remaining eligible partners then enter a people's choice award to determine the final beneficiary.
Each of the charity partners will be invited to a Black-Tie event prior the Canberra Community Chest where a representative will draw the equine hero racing for their charity.
Canberra Racing Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said "We are so proud of the event's success last year."
"To connect with these wonderful community organisations was a real highlight and to see how much our chest donation meant to their efforts to help our community was enormously satisfying."
"We are dedicated to being a force for good within the Canberra community and this is a great opportunity to give back through a top-quality race day and event showcasing the best of regional produce and hospitality."
Affinity Electrical Technologies, a wonderful supporter of Canberra racing and the local community, will again be the major partner of the race day and are naming rights to the Single Gaze.
Affinity Electrical Technologies have been a sponsor of the Canberra Racing Club for over 10 years and have a rich history of supporting the Canberra community.
Charities, community group & sporting clubs are invited to apply to be involved in the Canberra Community Chest via thoroughbredpark.com.au. Applications on at 12pm on Monday, 12 August. Media Contact: Robbie Ringland, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, Canberra Racing Club M: 0439 832 972