Racing Welfare Celebrates Supporters’ Success in the Great North Run

Racing Welfare is proud to recognise and celebrate the incredible efforts of six dedicated supporters who took on the Great North Run on Sunday 7th September in aid of the charity.

Team Racing Welfare consisted of Sammy Jo Bell, John Bozza, Chris Martin, Jordan Riley, Shane O’Keefe and Tiegan Alexander.

Together, the team has already raised an outstanding £3,275, with further donations continuing to come in. Their fundraising efforts will go directly towards Racing Welfare’s work in providing vital support to people working in the horseracing and thoroughbred breeding industry.

The Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon, is a challenging test of endurance, and all six runners showed huge commitment both in their training and on the day. Racing Welfare extends heartfelt thanks to each of them for their determination and generosity, as well as to everyone who has supported their fundraising efforts.

Chris Martin, Head Person at Archie Watson Racing in Lambourn was the top fundraiser, generating £1,220 in sponsorship and has previously run the TCS London Marathon for Racing Welfare. He said: “It was good fun and a good opportunity. It was amazing and a brilliant day. If you’re a runner it’s hard to get in these events and it’s even better to do it for charity, running for Racing Welfare is a bonus. It’s good to raise a few quid – you always want to smash the target and if you’re not being competitive there’s no point!

“It’s great to do it for a charity where the money is supporting people in your circle and it’s good support for the village.”

RaceTech Chief Executive and Racing Welfare Trustee said: “Given 60,000 people were running, amazingly one of the other Racing Welfare runners tapped me on the back at about eight miles. He was going so fast I did not catch his name! Thanks for all the support – I really enjoyed the day and glad I could raise a few pounds for us.”

Having completed the Great North Run for Racing Welfare in 2023, Racing Welfare’s Chief Executive Dawn Goodfellow is only too aware of how tough the challenge is. Recognising their efforts, she said: “We are so grateful to Chris, John, Jordan, Sammy Jo, Tiegan and Shane for their fantastic achievement in completing the Great North Run and for raising such an incredible sum for Racing Welfare. The charity has been supporting racing’s people for 25 years, and just like the people we support, our work is behind the scenes but crucial for the sport. Every pound raised helps us to continue providing our vital services to our community. Their efforts are a wonderful example of the racing community pulling together to make a real difference.”

Donations are still being accepted in support of the team’s achievement, and Racing Welfare encourages anyone who would like to contribute to do so via the runners’ fundraising pages which can be found here.

Anyone interested in taking on a challenge for Racing Welfare can see the available opportunities at www.racingwelfare.co.uk/challenges