The shearing shed of Quentin and Di Davies at Cardiff Stud in Yorkrakine hosted the ninth annual Shearing for Liz Pink Day on September 10 2022, raising a record total of $164,200 for Breast Cancer Research Centre – WA. During the past nine years, the Shearing for Liz team has raised a grand total of over $400,000 for breast cancer research in WA.

For the first time this year, the fundraising campaign extended beyond the day itself, to include the incredibly generous donation by 37 studs around WA of one of their valuable rams for auction.  Agribusiness companies Elders and Nutrien joined forces with the Shearing for Liz team to coordinate the ram sales, which made a significant contribution to the total.

The huge effort was led by Quentin Davies and Tom Reed and their families and was made possible by the generosity of regional WA farmers and businesses who donated their rams and other items for auction.

Quentin, who donated a ram to the sales from his own stud and is also the Wyalkatchem Shire President in his spare time, said the response and support for the Shearing for Liz fundraiser have exceeded all of their expectations.

“We sincerely thank everyone that has contributed or donated, special mention this year to all the studs that donated the proceeds from a Ram at their sale. Listening to the inspiring Professor Arlene Chan speaking at the recent fundraiser dinner about the work that BCRC-WA does to improve the future of everyone affected by breast cancer, just makes our small contribution seem worthwhile”.

The original ‘Shearing for Liz’ Day was organised by Jumbuk Shearing’s Tom Reed and his wife Lucy in memory of their close friend Liz Roberts who passed away in 2014 following an eight-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. It is a tribute to them that their event has become not only a profound fundraising effort but also a valuable initiative that encourages breast cancer awareness and education among farming communities in WA.

Fiona Cocks, Interim CEO at BCRC-WA, says she cannot thank the Shearing for Liz team and the farmers of WA enough for how they have embraced this cause.

“Not only are the funds raised so valuable in enabling us to continue to meet the needs of breast cancer patients and their families by way of funding further research and providing breast care nurses, psychologists and other support services to patients, but we must also acknowledge the importance of getting the breast cancer awareness message into regional WA through this event.  Remember also that the regional areas do not have easy access to the best medical and specialist care like we do in Perth, which makes their generosity in supporting this campaign all the more admirable.”    

The entire BCRC-WA team extends their heartfelt gratitude to the Davies family, Tom and Lucy Reed, Nutrien and Elders and everyone who participated in this year’s Shearing for Liz Pink events.   The Shearing for Liz team never rest, and we understand rams are already being sold at auction to contribute to next year’s total!