The British racing industry and British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) are joining the hundreds of other organisations who have launched appeals to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, which struck South East Asia on Boxing Day killing over 140,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.
Racing to Help is a racing industry initiative, which will be raising money to help the survivors of this unprecedented natural disaster rebuild their homes and their lives. It plans to raise funds over the next six months, which will be donated to the 12 major charities that comprise the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) at the end of June 2005 to ensure they can continue their important work beyond the initial crisis period.
Racing to Help is being backed by all the racing industry’s major players including Weatherbys Bank, who are providing the financial and banking systems that will allow 100% of the funds raised to be passed on to the relief effort.
Among the numerous fund-raising ideas being promoted by Racing to Help is the “One Percent Club” where owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys and stable staff can voluntarily elect to have 1% of their prize monies deducted and donated directly to the fund by Weatherbys.
The brainchild of the scheme, Nick Boyd of 20-20PR, is delighted with the industry’s initial response, saying: “Ascot Racecourse have donated £25,000, jockeys have pledged their TV fees and racecourse caterers have pledged their support.”
The British Show Jumping Association is also appealing to its members to donate financial aid to help the tsunami victims, and has pledged to donate funds raised at its annual Awards Ball (29 January 2005) to the Tsunami Appeal.
John Jacks, chairman of the BSJA said: “The devastation and loss of life caused by this tidal wave is tragic and all the help we can give to this appeal will be greatly appreciated.”
Donations by cheque payable to the BSJA marked on the reverse DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal – Gift Aid (which also allows for 28p in the £ tax to be reclaimed by the appeal centre) should be sent to BSJA head office.
For more details visit: www.racingtohelp.co.uk and www.bsja.co.uk
