MENU

Melbourne Cup Carnival Pin & Win ambassador line-up announced to help Very Special Kids

(Pictured is seven-year-old Very Special Kid, Ace, who helped us launch our Pin & Win campaign)

Australian actress and director Rachel Griffiths will join a stellar Pin & Win ambassador line-up, it’s been announced today.

Griffiths joins former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers, TV personality Tim Robards, model Kirsten Stanley, Network 10’s Caty Price and Roz Kelly, designer Lisa Leverington, celebrity stylist Suzy Eskander, TV personality Lorinska Merrington, fashion blogger Jess Dempsey, AFL legend Chris Judd and TV chef and presenter Shane Delia as Pin & Win ambassadors for Very Special Kids.

Very Special Kids is Victoria Racing Club’s (VRC) 2019 Pin & Win charity partner, marking the first time the two have partnered.

Very Special Kids provides vital services for children with life-limiting illnesses and is set to rebuild its children’s hospice next year. All proceeds raised from the sale of Lexus Melbourne Cup souvenir pins will go towards vital services for the 900 Victorian families it supports and a much-needed rebuild of its children’s hospice in Malvern.

Very Special Kid’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Wasley said he was excited to have the support of some of Australia’s well-known faces and is looking forward to raising as much money as possible for Very Special Kids.

“We are an almost 80 per cent self-funded charity so to be able to partner with Victoria Racing Club at a time when donations are especially vital is just incredible. We are equally thrilled to also now have the support of a wonderful group of ambassadors,” he said.

Chris Judd said, “I was keen to support Very Special Kids and the Pin & Win campaign because of the incredible work they do in supporting children and their families during times when their children are facing serious ill health. I’m incredibly lucky to have four kids, I can only imagine just how terrifying and sad it would be to find yourself in a situation where your child has such concerns surrounding their health. Any person that takes a minute to analyse the work Very Special Kids do, would find it easy to understand why the work they do is so important.”

Pin & Win is the VRC’s flagship annual charity fundraiser and since 1995 has given charities the platform to raise more than $5.7 million through the sale of Lexus Melbourne Cup souvenir pins, helping to change lives and support the community.

Very Special Kids is the 15th charity partner of the VRC.

VRC Chief Executive Officer Neil Wilson said the Club was delighted to work alongside Very Special Kids, and the newly announced ambassadors.

“The VRC is proud to partner with Very Special Kids, and support their important work caring for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. It’s wonderful that so many prominent faces are backing the initiative, and we look forward to working with them throughout the Pin & Win campaign. I encourage everyone who enjoys the Melbourne Cup Carnival to purchase a pin to support Very Special Kids.”

Pins are available at Flemington race days, and from the VRC and Very Special Kids‘ websites.