The 21st Pink Ladies’ Tractor Run
This year’s run raises a phenomenal £136,850 for charity… taking the event’s grand total to £1.36million!
The iconic Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run has raised a phenomenal sum for charity this year, following the 21st outing of this much-loved event.
On Friday night, organisers of The Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run announced the 2025 fundraising total to the surprised gasps and shouts of ‘wow’ by those gathered.
The total was announced for the first time at the event’s annual celebration evening in front of hundreds of supporters including this year’s Pink Ladies, the support crew, marshals and the wider
team.
The first Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run took place in 2004, and this year’s collection takes the total raised by the event to more than £1.36million – all in aid of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
In July, a record-breaking 192 ladies took part in the 2025 run with a convoy of tractors swathed in pink travelling a 20-mile route through south Norfolk and north Suffolk.
Organiser Annie Chapman said: “Last year, the run raised an incredible £127,150. My husband, John, and I quietly agreed that we were never likely to raise that sort of money again in a single year. But my wonderful Pink Ladies have this year proved us well and truly wrong. 192 of them turned out on the 6th July to raise an extraordinary £136,850 for Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer appeal.
“It is amazing. It is humbling. I am deeply grateful to all the fantastic, caring people who every year make the Ladies’ Tractor Road Run an outstanding success. In 21 years, we have raised £1,360,000!
“Thank you to everybody for whatever you have done for this tractor run, none of it would happen without a full team effort.”
At the presentation, Annie was joined by Karen Thompson, who took part in the run for the first time this year and who presented the cheque to Sophia France, Relationship Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk at Cancer Research UK.
Karen said: “A phenomenal amount of money has been raised this year. I’ve watched the Pink Ladies Tractor Run year-on-year in Harleston and every time I said, wouldn’t it be great to be sat on one of those tractors.
“My world changed last year when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It tore our world apart. I’m now in a position that people wouldn’t have had pre-2019, with treatment that Cancer Research UK are very much a part of delivering. Ongoing research and the money that funds that is absolutely vital and I’m living proof of that and I’m benefitting from that.”
“Annie and John, what you’ve done over the last 21 years, to the tune of £1,360,000, it’s phenomenal. You never know when you’re going to need to draw on the treatment that that research
provides.”
On receiving the cheque on behalf of Cancer Research UK, Sophia said: “It’s seldom that I’m speechless. Karen, thank you for bravely sharing your story, it’s stories like yours which actually bring
home why these phenomenal people do what they do.
“Your fundraising really does bring people hope and it is proof of the impact you have. It’s not just the incredible fundraising that you raise, it’s the awareness you raise too. This fierce determination you have, it’s quite remarkable.
“Your incredible fundraising is funding research that gives people futures and hope.”
This year’s Run took place on Sunday 6th July and torrential rain, followed by brilliant summer sunshine, didn’t deter the thousands of people who turned out along the route to cheer the ladies on.
Houses and businesses were bedecked in pink bunting, banners and flags and many supporters were dressed head-to-toe in pink.
For more information about the event please visit www.ladiestractorroadrun.co.uk
Photo credit: Jono Stack