RCSI in association with AIB and Vincent & Beatty Solicitors today launched its third annual Race Against Breast Cancer event, which will take place on Sunday, 2 November 2008 at Leopardstown Racecourse.

Each year the event raises much needed funds for breast cancer research in Ireland, with last year’s event raising a whopping €525,650 in one day.

The pink themed day brings together family, friends and breast cancer survivors all racing toward a common goal - to effect speedier treatments and enhance outcomes for breast cancer patients in Ireland. The day promises to be one of excitement, elegance and entertainment with one lucky guest driving away in a BMW 3 Series Convertible, fully taxed and insured for one year, kindly donated by BMW Ireland. On arrival, guests will be welcomed by MC for the day, Primetime presenter Miriam O'Callaghan, and will be presented with luxury goody bags including items from Tipperary Crystal; ladies and gents cosmetics and a host of other novelty items The first of eight races takes place at 12.30pm and will be followed by the highlight of the day, the charity auction, where guests have the opportunity to bid on specially commissioned jewellery; signed premier league sports shirts; and luxury breaks, amongst a host of other items.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with approximately one-in-10 Irish women at risk of developing the disease. RCSI is continually working towards improving these statistics by funding research programmes into the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Funds from previous Race Days have helped establish the countries first ever Symptomatic Breast Cancer Unit at Beaumont Hospital under Professor Arnold Hill, RCSI’s Professor of Surgery along with a Breast Cancer Research Lab at Waterford Regional Hospital.

The RCSI Race Day receives the support of a strong organising committee, including Pat Desmond, Kathleen Reynolds, Ann Smurfit, Triona McCarthy, Tanya Airey, Anne Heffernan, Carol Mallon, Paul Gallagher, Camilla Fearon, Frederika Barrett, Sarah Heaney, Jim Kelly, and Carmel Horgan, who bring their inimitable style and fundraising skills to ensure the event is a huge success. With the major sponsors for the event secured, all monies raised through the sale of tables, raffle and auction will go directly towards RCSI's national programme of breast cancer research and its ‘bench to bedside’ approach in the treatment of this debilitating disease. 

Professor Arnold Hill, Professor of Surgery RCSI and leading Irish breast Cancer Consultant, said: “This event is an important date in our calendar every year, not just in terms of fundraising but also in terms of raising awareness of the disease. Our goal is to ensure that every woman in Ireland who is diagnosed with breast cancer receives the very latest personalised treatment portfolio for their cancer. Significant advances are being made in the treatment of disease. We want to ensure that these are available to all our patients.”