Rise Above – Capital Region Cancer Relief voted as final Canberra Community Chest partner

The Canberra Racing Club is delighted to welcome Rise Above – Capital Region Cancer Relief aboard as the 12th and final partner for the inaugural Canberra Community Chest after a People’s Choice Award vote closed at 5pm on Friday, 10 November.

Rise Above, provide financial assistance and support cancer patients and families residing with them within the ACT, Queanbeyan and surrounds. Rise Above and the other 11 partners will now be united with an equine hero on Saturday, 25 November where they will race for their share of a $50,000 Community Chest.

Rise Above CEO Wayne Simpson said, “We love this concept, the Canberra Community Chest concept not only provides the partners to share in some needed funding, but it also raises their profile and helps them to engage with a wider audience and parts of the community they may not have reached before.”

“In our case funding is important however our main priority is to reach more Canberra cancer patients who could use our support.  The partnership with the Canberra Racing Club makes sense because they are a community organisation, as are we, and we all work towards better outcomes for those in the community.”

“The more that the community can collaborate the better the outcomes for all, I take my hat off to Canberra Racing for the community leadership they are demonstrating. “ 

Each of the partners will randomly draw their horse to race in the Canberra Community Chest with the horses’ finishing position to determine the partner’s share of the $50,000 community chest. The winning partner will receive $25,000.

“The proceeds of the Canberra Community Chest will be used to directly support local cancer patients.  Our support includes covering cost of cancer related medications, the cost of dietary supplements, one off bill payments, food and fuel vouchers and the initial cost of fertility preservation.” Simpson said.

“Cancer can be isolating for the individuals and their families who are impacted by this insidious disease.  They crave social interaction but at the same time are nervous about it because of their health.  We would use some of the funds provided to enable access to safe social activities that the families could undertake that most of us take for granted. “

“Attendance at race days is a great example of the type of activity which would suit some of them.”

Canberra Racing Club Chief Executive Darren Pearce said, “We are so proud to partner with these 12 community heroes and we look forward to coming together for the inaugural Canberra Community Chest.”

“The Canberra Community Chest will provide profound and meaningful benefits to these deserving organisations and we hope Canberra gets behind them at Thoroughbred Park on Saturday, 25 November.”

“Our Club is ecstatic with community response to this initiative, and we can’t wait to unite these charities and community groups with their thoroughbred hero.”

A community-focused event, the Canberra Community Chest will host many kids’ activities as well as partner pop-ups including meet & greets with Pegasus’s ponies and a rainbow Fire Truck provided by ACT Volunteer Brigades Association.

The event will also feature live music, premium local food vans and thrilling racing on-course.

Tickets are available at Ticketek, with a share of proceeds to be shared by the 12 partners.   

Full list of Canberra Community Chest Partners: