Racegoers will also be encouraged to elevate their racewear with a touch of purple and take the opportunity to donate to the Appeal, making Kennedy Oaks Day A Great Thursday for the Good Friday Appeal.
Jockeys on the day will wear purple breeches which will be auctioned off following the raceday, with the net proceeds to be donated to the Appeal.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said the club is delighted to elevate Kennedy Oaks Day by partnering with the Good Friday Appeal, a cause which is close to the heart of so many Victorians.
“We are very pleased to extend our partnership with The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, after launching our fundraising initiatives earlier this year with $41,000 raised at the Flemington Racing Spectacular.
“We have seen the capacity of the Melbourne Cup Carnival to do good for the community through the longstanding Pin & Win initiative which has raised $7.4 million for charity since its inception in 1995, a figure which will continue to grow this year and into the future.
“Oaks Day is the fourth highest attended race day in Australia and is a favourite for many VRC members, general racegoers and especially for those who attend with corporate clients and colleagues.
“This new partnership will provide an additional layer to the day and gives us another opportunity to leverage the world-famous Melbourne Cup Carnival to contribute to a higher order cause, and the best way to be part of the magic is to be there trackside to experience the colour and excitement for yourself.
“The Good Friday Appeal is so uniquely Melbourne, and this new partnership gives an opportunity for the tens of thousands of people who attend Kennedy Oaks Day to feel part of something that is making a real difference to the lives of sick kids.
“Kennedy Oaks Day is a wonderful opportunity for Melburnians to enjoy a stellar day of racing, business and fashion, all while supporting a great cause, and I personally am looking forward to adding a splash of purple to my racewear on the day,” said Rosich.
When the Children’s Hospital was at risk of closure in the early 1930s, a group of local journalists banded together to host a football match between jockeys from Flemington and Caulfield, in front of a 20,000 strong Melbourne crowd which raised £427 for the hospital.
Since then, the Good Friday Appeal has become an iconic institution of Melbourne and has raised an incredible $444M over the past 92 years, with all funds raised going directly to The Royal Children’s Hospital to provide world class care for all Victorian families as well as those across Australia and around the world.
Executive Director of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Rebecca Cowan echoes the sentiment of the VRC as the relationship extends to the 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“The Good Friday Appeal welcomes its partnership with the VRC and we’re looking forward to building on our long-standing relationship with the local community.
“We hope that at this Kennedy Oaks Day, racegoers can enjoy their race day experience while leaning into the great cause of the Appeal, as we strive to raise even more funds in 2024 and beyond,” said Cowan.
There will be donation options on course while the partnership on Kennedy Oaks Day will also provide an opportunity for all racegoers to start planning their involvement in the Appeal, 142 days out from Good Friday itself.
All proceeds raised support The Royal Children’s Hospital’s ground-breaking research, state of the art equipment and technology, and family centred care programs while also attracting and retaining the brightest minds.
Tickets to Kennedy Oaks Day are now available.
About the Good Friday Appeal
Since 1931, the Good Friday Appeal has been dedicated to fundraising for The Royal Children’s Hospital so that it can continue to provide world class care for children across Victoria and beyond.
The generous donations of the many Victorians across each suburb and region helps to make The Royal Children’s Hospital so special. It’s because of the continued support of the Victorian community that The Royal Children’s Hospital continues to grow and be at the forefront of paediatric care to help sick kids.
The next Good Friday Appeal will take place on Friday 29 March. Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes an enormous difference to helping The Royal Children’s Hospital to be a great hospital, providing world class care and continuing their work in leading the way as one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, helping kids live healthy lives and realise their full potential.
For more information about Good Friday Appeal please visit: www.goodfridayappeal.com.au
