Red Shoe Society / Ronald McDonald House, Perth

In March 2016, Australian Jockey Boots were approached by Todd Baker of the Red Shoe Society, an organisation of young professionals with a mission to raise funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House Perth, to help with a new fundraising initiative.

Todd and his team work tirelessly in organizing charity functions, one of which happened to be an annual Red Shoe Society race day held on WATC Derby Day each year at Ascot Racecourse. Trackside parties and fundraising activations were held on-course and racegoers were all encouraged to wear red shoes. But in 2016, Todd wanted to get the Jockey’s involved and asked us to help make red boots for Perth’s leading Jockeys. We jumped at the opportunity, making and donating special red race boots to be worn on the race day. It was obviously an amazing event to be involved in and we knew the donations raised through the red boots initiative, would all go to a good cause.

Red Shoe Society events each year help raise funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House – a home away from home for families with a child suffering from a serious illness. Every night of the year, up to 47 families call Ronald McDonald House Perth home, and with annual operating costs of over $4 million, the house wouldn’t be able to operate without the support of many generous people and businesses.

The Red Shoe Society race day has now become an annual event (5 years running), held during the Autumn Racing Carnival. We have been fortunate to be able to support and be involved by supplying and donating red race boots for three years now and will hope to do so into the future.  We look forward to this event growing in stature and hopefully one day expanding to all jockeys and/or national expansion.