Pictured above, L to R: Steve Currie (Perkins), Rebecca Grey (MACA), Richard Otway (WesTrac), Professor Peter Leedman AO (Perkins), Geoff Baker (MACA), Geoff Bailey (WesTrac), Bob Gavranich & John Moralee (Mineral Resources)
Three of Western Australia’s biggest mining sector companies have announced an alliance with the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to support cancer research.
UNDER the banner of the Perkins Alliance, MACA Ltd, WesTrac Pty Ltd and Mineral Resources Ltd will provide infrastructure and logistics support either directly or by influencing suppliers to reduce costs associated with the Harry Perkins Institute’s major annual fundraising event, the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research.
This annual event, scheduled for 16-17 October, will see more than 1,500 riders each of whom has raised at least $2,500 completing a two-day bike ride from Optus Stadium to Mandurah and back again.
The event has sold out. And with donations of over $4 million to date, this event is the most successful charity bike ride in Australia.
Over the past nine years, the Ride has raised nearly $40 million for cancer research.
MACA, WesTrac and Mineral Resources all have teams entered in this year’s 10th anniversary event.
All three of these companies understand the value of research and the impact it has on our community.
MACA is naming-rights sponsor of the event and has raised over $17 million of the total funds raised in the past 10 years.
The Harry Perkins Institute’s Partner Relationship Manager, Steve Currie, who has a resources industry background, saw the opportunity to bring these major businesses on board to provide in-kind support for the event.
“All three companies leapt at the opportunity to offer their support. All have the equipment, infrastructure and logistics needed to host such a major event. They see the benefits of joining forces to deliver what is needed to reduce event costs so that more can go directly back to cancer research,” Mr Currie says.
“MACA has a strong culture of giving,” says Mr Currie. “Non-executive Chairman and Founder of MACA, Geoff Baker, has been instrumental in steering the Perkins Alliance, though all three companies say the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research fits well with their employees’ values.”
WesTrac and Mineral Resources are also long-term supporters of the Ride and the Perkins.
WesTrac has been part of the Ride since the beginning. In that time, the company has experienced team growth and greater organisational involvement.
WesTrac is also sponsoring the post-ride celebrations this year with the inaugural WesTrac Welcome Back event at Optus Stadium.
Aside from this Alliance, Mineral Resources has been a significant supporter of cardiovascular research at the Perkins for many years. The company acknowledges that Ride participation has grown from the bottom up with management proud to support their employees’ passion for this event.
“All three companies believe that the MACA Cancer 200 fits well with their commitment to corporate social responsibility.
It involves all levels of employees within these organisations and unites the whole under one cause to end cancer for good.
“The motivation that’s brought these three companies together is their shared passion to give back to the WA community, and our hope is that this is the beginning of a strong, altruistic partnership,” says Mr Currie.
The Harry Perkins Institute took the Ride in-house in 2019 to ensure maximum funds were channelled back to WA cancer research.
To learn more about the Ride, please go to cancer200.org.au
“The motivation that’s brought these three companies together is their shared passion to give back to the WA community”
– Steve Currie
