09 February 2021 | Paul Courts
ONCE again South Australia’s Queen of the Raceway Dani Hill is setting a cracking pace in the name of charity.
Hill, along with more than 260 reinswomen throughout Australia and New Zealand, is sporting specially-designed driving pants as part of the Team Teal Campaign.
The sport’s ladies wear teal pants between February 1 and March 14 to raise awareness and valuable funds for ANZGOG – Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group.
Money is earned via each win during the campaign, with the various state governing bodies donating a set amount per victory, which is matched by the state’s major wagering company.
On average a win is worth $400 for the kitty.
In its seventh year, the Team Teal Campaign has raised more than $2million.
In 2017 Hill led the team with 32 wins before repeating the dose in 2018 – a remarkable feat considering the limited opportunities compared to other states!
Missing the 2019 campaign due to injury, Hill was again SA’s main contributor with a dozen victories last year.
After Hill’s horrific race fall in 2019 a GoFundme was arranged for the multiple premiership winner who insisted all money raised was donated to the Team Teal Campaign.
“I was hoping she would at least accept 50/50 between her and charity, but Dani is pretty stubborn,” organiser Aaron Bain said. “She wants every cent that goes into the kitty to be given to the charity.
“She is disappointed she can’t drive during the teal pants period and this is her way of still raising money for such a wonderful cause.”
From three meetings in this season, Hill has registered six victories for the cause.
With support from her peers, SA’s reinswomen have notched twelve wins.
“It’s all the more special to get some wins on the board during teal pants time,” Hill said. “I was rapt to get a treble the other night and it will be awesome if I can keep the ball rolling.
“Every win helps and the ladies all over Australasia have already been making plenty of trips to the winners’ circle in the first week.
“It’s a wonderful charity to be supporting and I, like all the reinswomen, will be doing my best.”
Team Teal originated in Victoria as the brainchild of Michael Taranto and Duncan McPherson in honour of McPherson’s wife, Lyn, who lost her battle to ovarian cancer in 2010.
“It was fantastic to have all the reinswomen jumping on board with the help of administrators, making my wife’s wish is continuing to come true,” McPherson said.
“To have each state in Australia and New Zealand embracing the Teal Pants concept is beyond description.
“It goes further than just raising money, which is needed to research and care, it lifts the awareness of ovarian cancer as well.”
– PAUL COURT
Photo: Walter Bulyga
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