Wayne Burton / Pushing a wheelchair

My name is Wayne Burton and I sustained a life changing injury in 2008 breaking my back in a hurdle race at Exeter racecourse. I have no idea where I would be right now without the support from the IJF.

I came up with an idea to give other beneficiaries a challenge while the world is very upside down right now.

Myself and other beneficiaries will be challenging ourselves to train to do as many miles as we possibly can to complete the mileage it would take to travel from Oaksey House to Peter O’Sullevan House to Jack Berry House back to Oaksey House, which is around 560 miles in total. We will be doing this challenge in different forms – walking, pushing a wheelchair, cycling, running, swimming…

The idea of this is to give beneficiaries some kind of focus, to help them with their fitness and try and raise as much money as possible for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

It would mean the world to us as beneficiaries if we could give something back to such an amazing charity!

Laura Scott / Cycling

The IJF are a fantastic charity who help so many people through their hardest times.
The IJF have been brilliant to me from the first few days I was in hospital and continue to be now. I’d definitely not have made as good a recovery without their support and rehabilitation. Not only is their rehab so good, but you get the chance to meet other like minded people who have suffered similar injuries at beneficiaries weeks and the IJF holiday. Sometimes sharing your experience with these people is as good as any rehab or physio. The IJF is fundamental to so many people’s recovery from life changing injuries, which is why I think it’s a brilliant charity to raise money for.

Lee Davies / Swimming / Hand Cycling

I had my accident in October 1990 as a result of an RTA breaking my neck at C4/C5, leaving me paralysed from the neck down which ended my career as flat jockey. I then spent one year in hospital recovering and having rehabilitation at Rookwood Hospital. The Injured Jockeys Fund helped me from the beginning by purchasing a light weight wheelchair that I could manoeuvre on flat surfaces. I was also selected to go on the first ever IJF holiday. It was the best rehabilitation meeting other injured jockeys after leaving Rookwood Hospital. Unfortunately at that time Oaksey House was just an idea of how Lord Oaksey wanted to help more on the continued rehabilitation after leaving hospital. In 2009 that was achieved and has helped thousands of jockeys since. I would like to try and swim four kilometres without any buoyancy aids to help raise money and maintain facilities at the three rehabilitation centres.

Rebecca Hewitt / Pushing a wheelchair

During lockdown I have been unable to go to the gym or go rowing, physical activity I really enjoy. I find it hard to motivate myself to work out on my own so this is a good opportunity to get out and about and push myself. The support the IJF has given me since my accident in 1995 in a hunters chase has been immeasurable. Their input has greatly enhanced the quality of my life and enabled me to lead a fulfilling one. I’m not sure how I would have coped without the IJF.

George Baker / Running

I rode as a flat jockey from 1999 to 2017.
My riding career came to an abrupt halt in February 2017 after a life-changing fall during a race on the White Turf in St Moritz, Switzerland.
My accident led to many months of recuperation from a brain injury. The Injured Jockeys Fund swung into action and the help and support of their rehabilitation teams has allowed me to lead a normal and happy life.

Sarah Gaisford / Pushing a wheelchair

The IJF are such an amazing charity and I am happy to be a part of this fundraising for them. They are like an extended family to me. I had an accident in a hurdle race 12 years ago and they have been by my side since then offering help and support both mentally and physically. I regularly go up to Oaksey House where I can stay for a few days and have physio and work out.
Quite frankly, I would be lost without them.

Isabel Tompsett / Walking

It is a hugely important organisation to raise money for. The IJF have been a crucial charity for my own personal recovery and continue to provide the service for others who get hurt. Immediately after my fall they were on hand to help myself and my immediate family cope with dealing with the situation we faced. Eventually, when a little closer to normal, they provided accommodation for me in Lambourn at Oaksey House where I was able to have daily physiotherapy and was in proximity to attend a swimming pool. This was 100% brilliant and gave me the confidence to achieve normal behaviour once more. Until you experience the severity of an injury like the brain damage I suffered you cannot realise the importance to have people who understand the condition so comprehensively and who are on hand all the time to help. This is the reason I consider the organisation to be incredibly worthwhile to raise money for.

Ed Barrett / Walking / Swimming

During lockdown I’ve really benefited from the home work outs that the IJF have provided. This has helped continue my recovery whilst maintaining my strength and conditioning. Setting challenges like walking a certain distance with my leg splints have maintained the muscles built in my legs and kept me motivated. The IJF have been a fantastic support since my accident in 2015.

Katie Watson / Walking

The IJF will forever hold a special place in mine and my family’s hearts. In 2014, whilst driving to work in Lambourn, I was involved in a car accident were I suffered from a broken neck and damage to my spinal cord. In just a matter of days the IJF contacted us and offered us instant help and support at such a challenging time. When I eventually left the Salisbury spinal unit I was lucky enough to be provided with accommodation at Oaksey House in Lambourn were I received 5 star physiotherapy and one-to-one gym sessions day in day out which were crucial to my recovery. Myself and my family will be eternally grateful to this incredible charity for their commitment and patience which needs to be recognised and backed 100%.