A life-saving NHS initiative born on Yorkshire’s racecourses is now in the national spotlight — and a powerful new video tells the story.
From Ripon to Beverley, Thirsk to Wetherby, Yorkshire’s iconic racecourses aren’t just about horses and heritage anymore — they’re making headlines for their impact off the track.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Go Racing in Yorkshire, in partnership with the NHS and supported by Racing Together, has launched a public health initiative that’s changing lives: bringing bowel cancer screening awareness directly to racegoers. This innovative approach, which won the 2024 Racecourse Association (RCA) Showcase Community Award, is now the focus of a new video available to watch online.
Racing Meets Public Health
Instead of relying solely on traditional campaigns, NHS teams in Yorkshire took a fresh approach: meeting people where they are. By tapping into the energy, footfall and community spirit of race days, the project has raised awareness of bowel cancer screening among harder-to-reach groups — using trusted local settings to spark life-saving conversations.
The initiative includes:
- On-course information stands at fixtures across the region
- Staff training to offer support and guidance
- Community talks and outreach across Yorkshire towns
Yorkshire’s Beacon for Change
The programme has already been hailed by public health leaders as a model for innovation. Lydia Brown of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said:
“This partnership has shown the power of creative thinking in public health.
“By meeting people where they are — in places they enjoy and trust — we’re breaking down barriers to life-saving screening.”
And the numbers speak for themselves. With early signs of increased screening uptake, the RCA is now developing a nationwide template based on Yorkshire’s model, sharing the tools for other racecourses across Britain to join in.
Award-Winning Impact
The campaign scooped the RCA Showcase Community Award in November 2024 — the highest honour in British racing for community impact — and has been praised as a “game-changing initiative” by the RCA’s Head of Raceday Experience, Paul Swain:
“Go Racing in Yorkshire’s partnership with local NHS Trusts has been rightly heralded.
“It’s a simple idea with extraordinary results — we hope to see it replicated from Cornwall to Ayr.”
Yorkshire Takes the Lead
Yorkshire’s racecourses have long been at the heart of community life, and this initiative proves they’re not just for race days — they’re venues for positive change. Charlotte Russell, General Manager of Go Racing in Yorkshire, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of something that’s not just innovative, but also life-changing. This video is our way of sharing the journey and encouraging others to take the baton.”
🎬 Watch the video and learn more about Yorkshire’s pioneering work in public health at:
🌐 Go Racing in Yorkshire’s Beacon Programme
