RACING piglets scampering around a track is serious business for NRL legend Dale Shearer.
The light-hearted fun at the Grass Roots Bull Riding event on Saturday was to raise money for his Shearer Tackles Cancer campaign, which he began after the loss of his wife Delyse and father to the disease.
Mr Shearer said three races were held from about noon with more than $900 generated in total for donation to various cancer groups.
He said it was all thanks to the raffled bids and Calcutta pool entries placed by punters on the grunters.
Eight piglets wearing sequined vests trotted around the obstacle course, which was set with hay bales, tyre rings and a weight-operated gate.
Mr Shearer, who also donated rugby league memorabilia to the Grass Roots charity auction last Friday night, said it was a great way to raise money, with bids from $10 up to $500 placed on past races.
“Once people hear it is for cancer, they want to give,” Mr Shearer said.
“The pig races are something a bit different and it is a bit of variety.”
Mr Shearer said he was delighted to have received an invite from a patron at the Grass Roots Bull Riding event to host his piglet races at Cunnumulla later this year.
Mr Shearer will next host fundraising efforts at the Redland Bay Hotel from 2pm on Thursday, which is Australia Day.
This time it would be crabs, rather than pigs that would be raced, he said.