Melbourne Cup Carnival – we’ve crossed the finish line!

November 11, 2019

The 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival was a great success for Very Special Kids as the Victoria Racing Club’s (VRC) official charity partner. We are thrilled to have raised over $440,000 through the Pin & Win Campaign so far, with donations still being received.

Very Special Kids had a strong presence at the four big race days – Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day – as well as participating in the Melbourne Cup Parade and Oaks Club Lunch. Funds raised will be going to the upcoming rebuild of our children’s hospice in Malvern, due to commence in December 2020.

We are incredibly grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who sold Melbourne Cup souvenir pins with a smile, even when braving the elements. Our volunteers are the backbone of Very Special Kids and we couldn’t have achieved such a fantastic result without their support and commitment. Thank you for being so generous with your time.

We’d also like to thank our wonderful ambassadors who have supported the campaign and shared the important work that we do. Thanks to Rachel Griffiths, Tim Robards, Olivia Molly Rogers, Jess Dempsey, Lorinska Merrington, Lisa Leverington, Caty Price, Suzy Eskander, Kirsten Stanley, Roz Kelly and Chris Judd.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to the VRC for the opportunity to work together in raising much needed funds for the hospice rebuild. We are very appreciative of their support in this first year of our partnership and look forward to working together in the future.

The Pin & Win Campaign has now closed, and congratulations to the prize winners. Donations are still welcome and can be made here.