We’re looking forward to supporting the 20th anniversary of the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run this summer.

Annie Chapman, who lives near Harleston in South Norfolk, created the event which sees hundreds of women dress themselves and their tractors in pink before driving them through the countryside.

Established in 2004, it has raised over £896,000 for Cancer Research UK and Annie is hoping to break the £1 million target this year.

Last year over 112 decorated tractors wound their way through 20 miles of Norfolk and north Suffolk rural roads, before stopping for a picnic in the grounds of Gawdy Hall, Redenhall, part of the Courteenhall Estate.

Annie, 81, a retired riding instructor, was shortlisted for a Pride of Britain Award 2022 for her fundraising work and has also been presented with a British Empire Medal. She is in the process of publishing a book about the event with stories from sixty people who have taken part.

She said: “I was approaching retirement when my husband, John, and I came up with the idea of doing something a little bit different to raise money for charity. It was meant to be a one-off event but over the years it just grew, and we’ve had more and more people wanting to take part.

“With it being our 20th anniversary this year I’m expecting it to be a record year.

“We have people from all walks of life, young and old, taking part and driving their tractors, or borrowed tractors, every year. About 90% of the ladies who take part don’t own a tractor and have never driven one before. Their first challenge is to learn how to drive one safely!

“The route is aways lined with people dressed top-to-toe in pink and lots of shops put up bunting. We have such great support.

“Everyone knows someone who has had cancer and the support means so much because all the money we raise goes straight to Cancer Research UK.

“It’s such a privilege to bring our event into the beautifully kept grounds of Gawdy Hall. We stop, line up the decorated tractors for everyone to look at and tuck into picnics in the bucolic meadow. It’s just lovely.

“This year I’ll have three generations of my family taking part. My three daughters, Julia, Libby and Catherine, will be coming on their tractors along with my grand-daughter Pip, who’ll be back from university. My other granddaughter, Charlotte, is 15 and already planning to take her tractor driving test in time for next year’s event.

Gawdy Hall’s Land Agent Mark Mayhew said: “The Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run is such an imaginative event which raises money for a brilliant cause. The Courteenhall and Gawdy Hall estates are delighted to support it. Everyone is welcome to come along and bring a picnic.”

The 2023 Ladies’ Tractor Road Run starts at Thorpe Abbotts Airfield at 11.30am on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Applications to take part are open from now until May 20th.

To donate please click here or for more information about the event visit www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk

Every day, almost 140 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the most common cancer in the UK.