The tractor road run has now raised £1.5m for breast cancer research since 2004 (Photo: Pink Ladies)
A breast cancer survivor who had never driven a tractor before joined 177 other women to raise £129,000 for breast cancer research in this year’s Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run.
The latest fundraising effort has taken the event’s total since it began in 2004 to nearly £1.5m for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
Among the 178 drivers was 59-year-old Penny Jackson-Smith, from west Norfolk, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39.
She underwent two operations before starting chemotherapy in May 2006 and has since taken on a number of fundraising challenges.
Jackson-Smith decided to return to fundraising for breast cancer research by taking part in the tractor run, despite having never driven one before.
Her decision was particularly personal, having previously participated in a Cancer Research UK-funded breast cancer trial examining whether chemotherapy treatment could be shortened.
“Twenty years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After two surgeries, I started chemo in May 2006,” she said.
“I wanted to fundraise again for breast cancer research. The tractor run appealed to me as it's something a little different.”
The 178 women completed a 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk, with thousands of spectators turning out to support the convoy.
Tractors of different shapes, sizes and ages were transformed for the occasion with pink balloons, ribbons and bunting, while drivers also embraced the theme with colourful outfits.
Organiser Annie Chapman said the final fundraising figure had exceeded expectations.
“We are absolutely blown away by this year's fundraising total,” she said.
“We knew the support had been incredible, but seeing the final figure in black and white is something else entirely.”
Chapman said the total reflected support from across the rural community, including roadside donations, sponsorship, volunteers and spectators.
“Every year we are amazed by the generosity of the people who support the Pink Ladies, and 2026 has been no exception,” she said.
“The Pink Ladies are incredibly proud to raise money for Cancer Research UK, and knowing that this money will help support vital breast cancer research makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
The Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run began as a one-off fundraising event in 2004 but has since become an annual fixture, attracting support from communities across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Its cumulative fundraising total now stands at £1.489 million for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer fund.
Chapman said the scale of the event’s success was something organisers could never have anticipated when it first began.
“When we started this event, I don't think any of us could have imagined that more than 20 years later we'd be talking about figures like this.”