Family digs deep for speedway fundraiser

Packed speedway program on show as competitors and fans rally to help fight breast cancer.

Toowoomba Speedway hosting a capacity crowd at a previous Ultimate Pink Night fund-raising meeting.

SPEEDWAY : It will be with a heavy heart when Brisbane’s Mick Shelford jumps behind the wheel tomorrow night at Hi-Tec Oils Toowoomba Speedway.

Shelford will be one of 35 hopeful drivers contesting this week’s Modified Sedan event as part of Toowoomba’s annual Ultimate Pink Night.

The Pink Night theme draws together competitors and fans to help raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and increase breast cancer awareness.

Shelford knows too well the devastating effects of breast cancer as his sister Carita Smith battles the disease.

His family’s cancer journey has prompted Shelford to donate $3000 to tomorrow night’s Modified Sedan prize money kitty while his brother-in-law Paul Smith will hand a $1000 cheque to the fund.

“My sister is in the advanced stages of breast cancer after being diagnosed in May and she has moved now to stage four,” Shelford said.

“The Ultimate Pink Night is a great initiative and we’re pretty keen to help the cause by putting up $3000 in prize money.

“It’s a way of showing our appreciation for the night and what it means in helping fight breast cancer.

“If we can help save one person going through what our family is now, all this is worthwhile.”

Shelford will be one of several drivers in cars sporting special pink livery for the occasion.

All females will be admitted free to the meeting with a gold coin donation going towards the fundraising effort.

Track action on the night includes round three of the USC Sprintcars, Modified Sedans, Compact Speedcars, AMCA Nationals, Formula 500s and Wingless Sprints.

Main racing starts at 6pm.