RCA Racing Together Community Award 2024: Focus on the finalists
In the run up to the RCA Showcase Awards on the 7th of November, this short series continues to shine a spotlight on the each of the five finalists in the Racing Together Community Award category and why their projects made the shortlist.
Next up is Go Racing in Yorkshire…
Bowel Cancer Screening Saves Lives
Aware that bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer and prevalent in the older population, Go Racing in Yorkshire wanted to use the nine Yorkshire-based courses to reach at least 10,000 racegoers over the year.
The aim was to have one bowel cancer screening programme raceday per month spread across all the courses and each race meeting was carefully selected to match the target demographic for screening kits – any gender, aged between 50-74. This also allowed them to take advantage of themed days such as Pontefract’s OAP free day.
Two NHS trust representatives attended each meeting, providing information and free pens – a sure-fire winner for a racegoer and a great way to start a conversation.
Yorkshire Beacon
The bowel cancer screening racedays have formed a major part of the Yorkshire Beacon activity for 2024, and the initiative has allowed the racecourses to add to the events in their own ways, with social media posts for example, whilst also uniting them with a common theme.
The results so far and the future
At the time of submission for the RCA Awards, Go Racing in Yorkshire were eight months into the project and had seen 14,962 racegoers – already well ahead of their 10,000 target.
Go Racing in Yorkshire have decided to extend the partnership with another 12 racedays next year, and will have a dedicated page on their website. It has also encouraged some individual partnerships and the South Yorkshire NHS Trust team are now working directly with Doncaster racecourse. The on-course activity has provoked discussion and raised awareness and ultimately the initiative will save lives.
When asked about the programme Charlotte Russell, General Manager for Go Racing in Yorkshire said “Recognising the synergy between the midweek racegoer and the demographic targeted by the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, working together was a natural fit and an easy way for local NHS Trusts’ to promote their services and explain the work of the programme. We have been really pleased with the engagement that Trust representatives have had with racegoers and plan to continue this partnership into next year, growing on the foundations we have set out.”
Lydia Brown, Specialist Screening Practitioner said “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Go Racing. We have been able to gain exposure and publicity to the demographic of Bowel Cancer Screening that we so desperately need in order to improve cancer outcomes amongst our screening centres population.
We are incredibly grateful for all the support and how easy GRiY made our partnership – we are looking forward to what we can achieve together in 2025.”
Will Go Racing in Yorkshire win the coveted RCA Showcase Community Award? Keep following to find out and read more about the final three projects over the next few days.
News
