During the coronavirus lockdown, a variety of challenges to raise money for charity and in support of the NHS have been sweeping across social media. But the latest one to dominate the world of racing is the #doitforDan raw egg challenge.
The social media trend was started to raise vital funds for treatment for an eight-month-old baby called Dan from Ireland – who in December was diagnosed with a rare genetic neuromuscular disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 and Scoliosis.
The challenge sees nominees open a fresh raw egg on camera, placing it in a cup and then drinking it. If you succeed, you then nominate more people using the hashtag, #doitforDan.
To date (30 April), the GoFundMe page has raised just over €1.9m with the money going towards a ground-breaking treatment called Zolgensma, which is currently only available in the USA and costs $2.1m.
“Thank you all for your support,” it states on the funding page. “We have now paused all donations as we have reached our target. You’ve done it for Dan. Thank you to each and every person who donated, fundraised and helped to spread to amazing story of Dan and his family. We will never be able to thank you all enough.”
Here’s our pick of racing celebrities, who have so far accepted the challenge…
Champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy
Raw Egg, courtesy of @donnacha_obrien … your turn @AndrewBalding2 @RalphBeckett @FahadAlthaniQR @the_doyler . Very best of luck! #healthkick pic.twitter.com/srtGygAceg
— Oisín Murphy (@oismurphy) April 21, 2020
Grand National and Gold Cup-winning trainer Gordon Elliott
Thanks @_Davy_Russel_ @AOryan @shanetgrant11 & @O_J_murphy91 for the nomination. Up next @DavidPipeRacing @tommalone600 & Gerry supple. #doitfordan https://t.co/Ec0WQ5ESXe pic.twitter.com/kUJqgqVt0B
— Gordon Elliott (@gelliott_racing) April 24, 2020
Champion National Hunt trainer Nicky Henderson
Thanks Hen Knight and @BarryJGeraghty for the nomination, delicious. Here’s my attempt ? you’re up @dminty13 Merrick Francis, Alan King, Ronnie Bartlett & Richard Kelvin-Hughes. pic.twitter.com/9qAvVXiWaO
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) April 23, 2020
Gold Cup-winning former trainer, showing judge and author Henrietta Knight
Henrietta Knight doing the #RawEggChallenge with some great nominations! @sevenbarrows @_Davy_Russel_ @swflanagan7 @bpowell13 @chrisgordon68 pic.twitter.com/DNfz6L30o0
— Jonathan Burke (@JohnnyBurke2) April 23, 2020
National Hunt jockey Harry Skelton
Thanks for nominating me @williams_lorcan @CharliePoste for the #doitforDan raw egg challenge ! Your next @SFSshawfarmstud @UnexCompetition @Lhenry89 Ella Mahon, get cracking ? pic.twitter.com/ayYzcjSwpS
— harryskelton (@harryskelton89) April 27, 2020
National Hunt trainer and H&H’s racing columnist Kim Bailey
Thank you @OliverSherwood @R_Forristal Simon Claisse for the #doitfordan egg challenge. I would like to nominate @edwardwabailey Patrick Bailey @hdbailey1989 pic.twitter.com/jvMUm9eM5j
— Kim Bailey (@kimbaileyracing) April 28, 2020
Former top jump jockey Wayne Hutchinson
Raw ? challenge; Thanks for the kind nomination @noelwilliams03
I am nominating @tommy_bells , callum venn‐Hutchinson, @chrisgaulton & phil waiters. Enjoy boys #DoItForDan pic.twitter.com/Ewt8xYIZEm— Wayne Hutchinson (@waynehutch81) April 29, 2020
National Hunt trainer Philip Hobbs
The Egg Challenge for Dan? pic.twitter.com/UE0fnfU6uJ
— Sarah Hobbs (@SarahHobbs11) April 24, 2020
Flat jockey Hollie Doyle
Thanks @KShoemark & @Armytage for the raw egg challenge nomination! #doitforDan ? pic.twitter.com/GqqpBivrcW
— Hollie Doyle (@HollieDoyle1) April 27, 2020
Ted Walsh, horse racing legend and father of former top jockey Ruby
The Bossman doing his egg challenge#doitfordan calling out Brendan Sheridan @jenmwalsh and @JamesnashRacing pic.twitter.com/NHAN3eKSat
— Ted Walsh (@walsh_ted) April 25, 2020
Master Irish Flat trainer Aidan O’Brien and his son Donnacha
Aidan and @donnacha_obrien attempting the raw egg challenge. Not a bother to Aidan ?
(Credit: donnachaob on IG) pic.twitter.com/93B8NAf0CN
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) April 22, 2020
National Hunt trainer Alan King
Thank you @sevenbarrows for the nomination to Alan King doing the egg challenge pic.twitter.com/tzwWZ54RJk
— CHARLOTTE BURKE (@LOTTIEPLUNKETT) April 24, 2020
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