€175k+ Raised in Pat Smullen Fundraiser for Cancer Trials Ireland

€176,771 has been raised from the Pat Smullen Race Day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland held at the Curragh on Saturday August 27 when the racecourse and the Coast to Curragh charity cycle joined forces in memory of the nine-time champion jockey.
 

The unique day of charity events featured the second outing of the Coast to Curragh cycle, a race day at the County Kildare racecourse which included a special charity lunch and auction featuring some outstanding items such as the original silks worn by Rachael Blackmore to win the 2022 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, and Pat Smullen’s 2019 Champions Race memorabilia signed by all the jockeys who rode in the famous race.

Funds were also raised from generous contributions from racegoers, the Curragh Racecourse along with sales of Pat Smullen’s biography.

All monies raised have been donated to Cancer Trials Ireland, the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland with which Pat Smullen was very closely associated during his own cancer battle.

Curragh Racecourse CEO, Brian Kavanagh, said: “Pat is a hero of Irish racing and will never be forgotten. It was a privilege for the Curragh to be able host this race day in his memory and to work with such a dedicated and enthusiastic committee in raising funds for this worthy cause. The intention is that the Pat Smullen Race Day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland will become an annual event in the Curragh calendar and we look forward to doing whatever we can to honour Pat’s memory and to raise funds for and awareness of cancer research in Ireland.”

Frances Smullen, commented: We had a great day at the Curragh this August at the special race day in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland in memory of Pat. Everyone’s generosity and goodwill was unbelievable and we are so appreciative and grateful for the support. For our family, it was a really important event to continue to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and raise essential funds for Cancer Trials Ireland’s life-saving work. We are looking forward to next year already.”

Cancer Trials Ireland CEO, Eibhlín Mulroe, said: “Once again, the horse racing community and the friends and family of Pat Smullen led by Pat’s wife Frances, have demonstrated their unyielding support for pancreatic cancer trials, for 2022, and for the coming years. You will be enabling access to treatments that Irish patients might not otherwise get. Thank you so much for making this possible.”

Cancer Trials Ireland

Cancer Trials Ireland is a registered charity and the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland. It aims to provide every patient with cancer access to high-quality and potentially life-altering cancer trials and to make Ireland a highly attractive location to open cancer trials.

In the past two decades almost 31,000 (30,770) people have taken part in nearly 800 (786) cancer clinical trials. Almost all cancer clinical trials available in Ireland are listed on the Cancer Trials Ireland website: www.cancertrials.ie/open-trials.

Cancer Trials Ireland work with the foremost Medical, Surgical and Radiation Oncologists, as well as Haematologists and Research Specialists (Oncology Research Nurses, Translational Scientists, Data Managers, Pharmacists, and staff) in Ireland. 98% of all cancer treating specialists in Ireland are members of Cancer Trials Ireland.