This Sunday marks the 20th Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run – when almost 200 women set out to drive a 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk on a convoy of decorated tractors swathed in pink. Organiser Annie Chapman explains why the fundraiser for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal is so iconic
The Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run will return in style on Sunday 7th July after smashing through a fundraising total of more than £1m for charity. This year will mark the event’s 20th run and almost 200 women are set to drive the 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk on a convoy of decorated tractors swathed in pink. Last year’s event was iconic for the team as a record number of women raised £201,000 in a single year to smash through a total of over £1m raised in aid of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
Organiser Annie Chapman says: ‘What an amazing achievement for a bunch of ladies on tractors, to have raised over £1million in 20 years for Cancer Research UK for breast cancer research!
‘We all thought we would take a bit of a dip in sign-ups this year after the record numbers of ladies last year. No doubt they were spurred on by the possibility that we could actually achieve the £1million! With 201 ladies on 195 tractors, we smashed the £1m by raising £201,000.00. Stunning!
‘Well, there’s no sign of a dip this year! I have 194 ladies booked in, a few of them are passengers and over 60 of them are new ladies! Interestingly, they are all relatively local, coming from south Norfolk and north Suffolk, brilliant! Cancer hasn’t gone away so we must continue to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.’
Fundraising is well underway with events including cake stalls, car boot sales, a dog show, bingo nights and quizzes. Each year, thousands of people line the route, cheering on the Pink Ladies in towns, villages, laybys and gardens. Houses and businesses are bedecked in pink bunting, banners and flags and many supporters dress in head-to-toe pink.
Audrey Alexander from Bush Green says: ‘I have been taking part in the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run since 2005 and it’s firmly written in my diary every year, it’s such a wonderful thing to do, raising money to help find a cure for breast cancer.
‘I enjoy getting my tractor dressed up in pink, it’s covered in anything pink from pigs to bows. The tractor I take is a grey Massey Ferguson which was the first tractor purchased by my late father-in-law to be used on the farm. After its useful life it was left in the nettles, but it was resurrected by my husband and son, and it’s helped to raise a lot of money over the years.
‘Taking part in the run on the day is a happy and sad experience. It’s very emotional as we drive through Harleston but also very rewarding as you return to Thorpe Abbotts airfield. Meeting family for the picnic lunch is also brilliant.’
The route starts at Thorpe Abbotts airfield before heading through Thorpe Abbotts, Brockdish and Upper Weybread, arriving in Harleston at about 12.30pm, before stopping for lunch between 1pm and 3pm at Gawdy Hall Meadow, Redenhall to which everyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch. The route back to Thorpe Abbotts airfield heads through Pulham St. Mary, Rushall, Langmere Green and back to the airfield.
Each year about a quarter of the ladies taking part are new to the event with many having never driven a tractor before. Kath Jones will be taking part in this year’s run for the eighth time. She says: ‘I have followed the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run since it started in 2004. I remember seeing the first run go passed my mum’s house in Pulham St Mary and we were intrigued by it. There were only about 20 or 30 tractors then. As the years progressed the run became bigger, and the tractors got more imaginative.
‘I first did the run in 2017 after collecting for the event. The cause is such a worthy one and we all knew someone who had been affected by cancer. Two friends of mine had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer so that also inspired me to get involved and raise funds.
‘I borrow a red Massey Ferguson 135 (1967), generously lent to me. The theme of my tractor decoration is pink cuddly toys, and I can’t go into a charity shop without looking out for anything pink. Basically, I work on the principle of ‘more is more’ when it comes to decorating the tractor.’
When presented with last year’s cheque, Myles Godfrey, Senior Manager at Cancer Research UK said: ‘In all the years at Cancer Research UK I’ve never been so inspired by a community coming together to make such a difference.
‘Your strength as a community is remarkable. 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and the research funding you give us saves more lives.
‘Every penny makes a difference, and one penny will buy a scientific slide for research scientists to use. One day 1p will save someone’s life and one day it will lead to a cure. Two in four people survive cancer but by 2034 we want three in four to survive.’
Annie adds: ‘As with any event of this size it cannot be achieved without the support of many people. I would like to express my thanks to all tractor owners, landowners, the many marshals, collecting ladies and anyone else who helps to make this event happen, it’s a large team effort!’
The 2024 Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run takes place on Sunday 7th July. For more information about the event please visit www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk. Donations for this year’s event can be made via Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run 2024 (cancerresearchuk.org).
Featured image – organiser of the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run, Annie Chapman, taken at last year’s event by Jonathan Slack
Leave a Reply