SOME of Victoria's brightest harness racing prospects have lent their support to the nation's bushfire relief efforts.
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As fires continue to burn across Australia, a group of young drivers donated their driving fees from last Friday night's Bendigo Pacing Cup meeting to Victorian bushfire victims.
The drivers, who act as ambassadors for Team Teal - the harness racing industry's campaign to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research - included Tayla French, who drove Form Analyst in the $70,000 cup feature, Shannon O'Sullivan, Michelle Phillips and Abbey Turnbull.
The gesture was followed this week by a commitment of $10,000 from Harness Racing Victoria to the Victorian Farmers Federation disaster relief efforts to support farmers affected by the bushfires.
HRV chief executive officer Dayle Brown said it was important to stand with those people in harness heartland - rural Victoria - during times of adversity.
"Harness racing is an industry with roots firmly entrenched in Victorian Rural communities and we are all gutted by the devastation," he said.
"The commitment of $10,000 will help provide some relief for the hard-working families in these fire-affected regions, because obviously people are doing it really tough out there.
"HRV is also committed to exploring other ways to support industry participants during these challenging times of drought and bushfire."
In a further boost to relief efforts, full gate takings from this month's Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting (January 18) will be donated to Wildlife Victoria, which is feeding and caring for the animals caught up in the bushfires.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow Team Teal ambassadors, Shannon O'Sullivan said the drivers had no hesitation in throwing their support behind bushfire relief efforts.
"It's a massively important cause, and just seeing the devastation these fires have caused has been horrific," she said.
"There are a lot of people who have been affected that you can really relate to. They have animals and they have horses - it's such a scary situation to be put in, not knowing what's going to happen.
"Being from a bush area, it's really hit home.
"Going to the races at Cobram (on Sunday) it was really eerie, the skies were a dark orange. I've never seen anything like it.
"When you see that you realise these people are going through something you would never like to experience."
Heathcote-based O'Sullivan, who notched up her first country cup win in the sulky at Elmore on Boxing Day, said she was again looking forward to being involved in this year's Team Teal campaign.
From February 1 until mid-March, reinswomen across Australia will wear teal coloured driving pants, striving to be the first across the line to secure donations for the Women's Cancer Foundation.
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Meanwhile, bushfire relief was not the only cause to benefit from last Friday's cup meeting at Lord's Raceway.
More than $1400 from the gold coin donation gate takings was raised for the volunteer Inglewood Community Kitchen.
Bendigo Harness Racing Club chief executive officer Erik Hendrix said the club was always keen to support worthy local community projects and organisations.
"With much of the community currently experiencing drought conditions and financial hardship, the Community Kitchen is bringing volunteers, farmers and isolated people together," he said.
"As an organisation looking after people in distress, they certainly fit our profile as an organisation we'd be happy to assist.
"They are a newer charity but are growing very fast, which is great to see."
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