GSC Racing Lunch 2010 - Lunch with Racing Royalty - Francesca Cumani

DATE

08/10/2010

MONEY RAISED

$20,568

ATTENDEES

320

Lunch with Racing Royalty

Our first international guest speaker resulted in unprecedented demand for seats and a record attendance of over 300 new and existing GSC members. As MC, Simon O’Donnell had the enviable task of interviewing Francesca Cumani, who spoke with class and authority on a variety of equine related topics.

Later in the day, Francesca was joined in a panel discussion by Brad Spicer, Greg Hall and Anthony Cummings. All gave their thoughts on the major races taking place the following Day at Caulfield. All were very confident that Gai Waterhouse’s champion mare ‘More Joyous’ would be capable of lugging a heavy impost to salute – they were of course proven correct.

Daniel Clohesy from the Mirabel foundation described how money raised from the GSC events held in 2009 had wholly funded a 2 day sporting ‘mega-camp’ for a group of 40 boys. In addition to being given the opportunity to participate in football, cricket and basketball clinics, all attendees were provided with a new pair of runners, a football and soccer ball to take home. It is great to hear that the GSC is making a tangible difference to the lives of these young people.

With such a large crowd and a number of terrific raffle and auction prizes, we were able to raise over $20,000 from the lunch. As always, 100% of this will go towards making sport more accessible for disadvantaged young people. In addition to the regular contribution we make to the Mirabel Foundation, we plan to sponsor a recreation program at a charity supporting young people with hearing impairments and assist a basketball program run for refugee children in the city’s north west.