The inaugural Origin Greyhound Series to be held at Albion Park on July 12, will not only be a major drawcard for fans of the sport, but beneficial for a truly worthwhile cause.
Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Greyhound Club have joined forces with the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF) to fight brain cancer, and introduced the ‘Blue Dog For Brain Cancer’ initiative.
RQ and Brisgreys will donate $1000 to the MHF whenever the Number 4 (blue) greyhound wins a race on UBET Origin Greyhound night.
Punters on course at Albion Park will also be able to help raise funds by purchasing a ‘Beanie for Brain Cancer’ for $20, when Queensland takes on New South Wales in a best of three series.
“Brain cancer is an insidious disease that takes far too many lives in Australia each year,” Brisgreys Chief Executive Luke Gatehouse (pictured with Mick Zammit and the Origin Shield) said.
“With former rugby league legends Terry Hill and Chris Walker acting as ambassadors for the series, we thought it was fitting for the industry to get behind a fellow league legend in his quest to raise money for research and awareness.”
The Mark Hughes Foundation is a charity formed by Newcastle premiership-winning rugby league player Mark Hughes and his wife Kirralee. Mark was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and continues to undergo regular testing.
His mission is to raise much-needed funds for research, to create awareness and, support brain cancer patients and their families.
“I would like to thank Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club for helping to continue our fight against brain cancer,” he said. “There are so many Australian families, including mine, that need answers and we are putting our hands up together to say the statistics and funding for brain cancer aren’t good enough.”
The Greyhound Origin Series will bring together nine of the best greyhounds from both Queensland and New South Wales for a $120,000 best of three series on one night – a 520m sprint, a 710m staying event, and a 520m match-race.
Both NSW and Queensland teams will be announced at midday Friday.
