NSW motorists adding a splash of hot pink to their vehicles have been doing their bit for cancer support, with more than $250,000 raised for the McGrath Foundation through the sale of pink and prestige number plates.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell today handed over a cheque to McGrath Foundation chairman Glenn McGrath from the latest RMS rare number plate auction, where a pink ‘56789’ plate raised $26,000.
‘Pink plates are proving a popular choice for NSW motorists,’ Mr O’Farrell said.
‘Not only do they add a colourful and personal touch to vehicles, but each sale raises money for the McGrath Foundation.
‘Since 2009, more than $250,000 has been raised through the sale of plates and specialty auctioned plates to support the McGrath Foundation.
‘People are buying these plates because they want to show their support in a public and practical way – myPlates donates $15 to the McGrath Foundation for each pink plate sold and $50 for each prestige plate.
‘The NSW Government is proud to support this initiative and values the work of McGrath Breast Care Nurses in the community who have supported over 20,000 Australian families through their breast cancer experience.’
Chairman and Co-Founder of the McGrath Foundation, Glenn McGrath, said the Foundation is getting one step closer to their goal of 150 McGrath Breast Care Nurses thanks to motorists choosing pink myPlates.
‘The McGrath Foundation aims to ensure every family experiencing breast cancer in Australia has access to a breast care nurse, no matter where they live or their financial situation. ‘We’re so proud of our friendship and thank RMS and myPlates for making it easy for people to support our Foundation by sporting pink plates, just like I have on my car. ‘This month, RMS and myPlates even restyled 16 of our 22 NSW McGrath Breast Care Nurses’ number plates to pink plates to make them more recognisable in the community,’ Mr McGrath said.
In February 2013, $26,000 was raised in the RMS rare number plate auction, with a pink ‘56789’ plate catching the eye of a bidder keen to support the McGrath Foundation. Mr ‘Pink Plate’, an anonymous long term fan of number plates said he made the big purchase in honour of his wife Elizabeth’s mother who lost her life to breast cancer.
‘I made numerous phone calls to the RMS and was determined to buy the number plate. I was lucky enough to take it home in honour of a woman we took care of who sadly didn’t make it, so this was definitely the right thing to do,’ he said.
The sale of rare number plates at RMS auctions has raised more than $3.57 million since 2009 towards RMS road safety and maintenance upgrades, with over $1 million raised alone at the auction on 4 February.
The record for an Australian number plate bought at auction is $680,000 which was paid for ‘NSW 2’ in 2003.
To purchase coloured range Pink or Prestige Pink plates, visit www.myplates.com.au or visit an RMS motor registry.
MEDIA: Cameron Hamilton or Mark Tobin 9228 5239
