Horse racing fanatics together with a host of well-known Irish personalities from the worlds of business, art, fashion, music and entertainment came together for Breast Cancer Ireland’s annual RCSI/AIB Race Against Breast Cancer Day at Leopardstown Pavilion.

The day, now in its fourth year, attracted over 730 and raised in excess of €294,000, which will go towards funding vital breast cancer research aimed at speeding up discovery time and ultimately offering more effective and more personalised treatments for those diagnosed. 

This year to add a further sense of glamour and fun to an already super day, a number of well-known personalities such as Irish actress Charlene McKenna; former Miss World Rosanna Davison and Chris De Burgh were in attendance.

Other invited guests included the RTE star and official MC Mary Kennedy; RTE Sports Commentator Colm Murray; rugby star Alan Quinlan and his model wife Ruth Griffin; TV3's Aisling O’Loughlin and Wesley Quirke.

Once again this year, the esteemed organising committee comprising of Kathleen Reynolds; Pat Desmond; Ann Smurfit; and Anne Heffernan to mention just a few, really outdid themselves in these challenging times, by creating a fun filled, exciting and glamorous day at the races.

Professor Arnold Hill, Head of Surgery at RCSI, said: "Breast cancer affects 2,400 women in Ireland annually. At RCSI, the goal is to establish the countries first National Breast Cancer Tissue Bio Bank and bring together all leading breast research units collaboratively, in an attempt to speed up discovery and ultimately effect faster and more efficient treatment for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Recently, it has been discovered, that not all treatments work as effectively on all patients and through ongoing research, RCSI aims to identify and personalise each patients’ treatment so as to effect a faster and more effective response to this disease."