RCSI will hold its second annual Race Against Breast Cancer Day on Sunday, 4 November 2007 at Leopardstown Racecourse. More ...

The event will raise much needed funds for breast cancer research in Ireland with last year’s event raising an unprecedented €627,500 for breast cancer research, the largest amount ever raised at a single fundraising event in Ireland.

Promising to be one of the social events of the year, guests will be welcomed by the Camembert Quartet and Prime Time presenter, Miriam O'Callaghan, will MC on the day. The first race takes place at 12.30pm and there will be a total of eight races held throughout the day. There will also be an auction where guests will have the opportunity to bid on items such as return flights and accommodation for the Olympics in Beijing; an abstract painting by Kevin Sharkey; a three day break to New York including flights and accommodation; €500 voucher for Paul Costelloe plus tickets for London fashion week and a six nations rugby package.

The event receives the support of a strong organising committee, including Pat Desmond, Kathleen Reynolds, Ann Smurfit, Anne Heffernan, Carol Mallon, Camilla Feron and Carmel Horgan, who will bring their inimitable style and fundraising skills to the fore ensuring that this event is a successful one.

With the major sponsors for the event already secured, all monies raised through the sale of tables, the surprise raffle and the silent auction will go directly towards RCSI's programme of breast cancer research.

Tables seat 10 guests, at a cost of €3,000, and this event sells out well in advance, so early booking is advised.

There are approximately 1,800 new cases of breast cancer in Ireland each year. As such, women living in Ireland have a one-in-10 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. 650 women in Ireland die from breast cancer each year. RCSI is committed to reducing the number of deaths from this disease through a combination of early detection and improved treatment methods, which are central to the facilities translational approach to medicine.

RCSI is the leading authority in breast cancer research in Ireland and has been commended for their translational approach to cancer treatment, offering a bench to bedside solution.

The major focus for this year’s Race Day is to take breast cancer research to a national collaborative level. Professor Arnold Hill, Professor of Surgery RCSI and leading Irish breast cancer consultant, said: “There are a number of very good research groups within Ireland all working independently. We at RCSI have a particular desire to bring together breast cancer researchers within Ireland to collaborate and thus transform breast cancer research in Ireland to an international level.”