THE Irish racing community continues to make a tangible impact in the world of cancer research through its support for the Pat Smullen Raceday which was run for the fourth time at the end of August at the Curragh.

Pat Smullen launched the initiative himself in 2019 when the Curragh hosted an unforgettable charity race during Irish Champions Weekend which raised an initial €2.6 milllion for Cancer Trials Ireland. This led to the creation of the Pat Smullen Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at UCD which acts as an anchor for pancreatic cancer research in Ireland.

Pat Smullen passed away in September 2020 and the raceday resumed in 2021, organised by a committee headed by Pat’s wife, Frances Crowley. The event includes a cycle organised by Gavin Lynch, a racecourse lunch and auction, and a charity race. Thanks to strong support from the racing sector, the raceday is on track to raise €1 million by 2025.

“When Pat was diagnosed, there were no trial options open to him in Ireland,” Crowley said. “When we began this whole fundraising project, that was what we wanted to change. Since then, we have achieved a great deal – thanks to the racing community who supported us in 2019 and have kept supporting since then. I want people to know what their donations are doing. Everyone has been so generous that it’s important to let people know their support is making a difference. Because of the backing of the racing community, there are clinical trials taking place. People with pancreatic cancer are getting more time with their families and that is a huge thing.”

Since 2019, the Pat Smullen Fund has supported four trials opening for patients with pancreatic cancer, opening up new, previously unavailable treatment options to 174 people in Ireland who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The Fund also supported St Vincent’s Hospital acquiring a Next Generation Sequencing machine, which can sequence the full genetic code of a pancreatic cancer tumour. This genetic data can open up treatment possibilities for pancreatic patients, if certain genetic mutations are identified.

Speaking to The Irish Field yesterday, Crowley had news of major projects in the pipeline which are being funded by the raceday. “We have pledged €100,000 to the roll-out of a surveillance programme targeted at those with a genetic disposition to pancreatic cancer.

“As everyone knows, pancreatic cancer is hard to treat because it is usually diagnosed quite late and it’s hard to fight it once the symptoms are obvious.

“But if you can identify those people who have a heriditary predispositon to pancreatic cancer and make them aware of it and enrol them in a screening programme, then you have a much better chance of beating it.”

Another “really exciting development” is the emergence of a treatment which targets a genetic mutation named KRAS. Crowley said: “A lot of people with pancreatic cancer have this mutation and we are getting ready to pounce on a treatment trial if one becomes available.”

She added: “I hope that people can appreciate what a big difference their support is making. Globally, people are not as aware of pancreatic cancer, compared to other cancers and despite being one of the most lethal cancers, it does not receive the same funding or attention as other cancers. But in Ireland, thanks to your support, awareness is rising all the time, and even people outside the racing community are supporting Cancer Trials Ireland and the Pat Smullen Fund.”

Raceday

Reflecting on the success of the Curragh raceday, Crowley said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us, particularly Evan Arkwright, Brian Kavanagh and their team at the Curragh, Barbara White of Horse Racing Ireland and the rest of the organising committee who have been great. Gavin Lynch, whose mother Olive passed from pancreatic cancer, and Jane Murphy have also done great work.”

She added: “Perhaps people looking for a new year’s resolution could consider expressing an interest in riding in the 2025 charity race. Anyone interested should contact Evan Arkwright at the Curragh (earkwright@curragh.ie).”

Web: cancertrials.ie