I am Hazel, and yes, you’re probably all thinking “Riding in a horse race at Hereford, she is having a Mid-life Crisis”!

Well, I have always had a passion for Horses and Racing and always wondered if I would be brave enough to ride in a real race on a racehorse! When I saw this opportunity to get involved to help raise funds for an amazing cause and combining a passion of mine, this opened the gate for me to apply for a challenge that I couldn’t resist at this point of my life. I can’t believe I was accepted as just one of 12 riders!

St. Michaels Hospice specialist staff, work together and often in partnership with the NHS to relieve patients’ symptoms, control their pain and help them to live as well as possible until the end of life. It is vital that everyone that needs it, has the appropriate care and support to cope with the complex feelings and lifestyle changes caused by a terminal illness. We have all had friends or family that have had to have this support at some point of time.

They also do a tremendous job in supporting the families of the loved ones, I know how hard it is to lose someone so close to your heart and with that little bit more reassurance it makes each little step feel a little easier.

This Charity deserves all the donations and support that is needed for their future and for generations to come.

So please support me in this journey, where I have decided to get back in the saddle and get training for the Charity flat Race for the St. Michael’s Hospice at Hereford Racecourse on Wednesday 27th March. All your donations will be gratefully received by going through the ‘Just Giving Page’.

I shall start my training, riding out with a local trainer next week and build up through to Race Day.

I know this is not going to be easy and I will probably wish at times I was running the London Marathon – again! Getting fit and ready for 30 MPH on top of a half-tonne thoroughbred in a competitive race in 2 months’ time is really quite daunting! So please do support me in giving me drive and determination to help St. Michaels Hospice and help me to my target allowing me to ride in the race.

The Jockey