Nicola Wilson Course Walk:
Thursday 1st June, 4pm
Our chosen charities for 2023:
British Eventing Support Trust & Spinal Research Trust
The British Eventing Support Trust provides invaluable support for injured event riders and to improve the safety and wellbeing of the people at the heart of our sport.
The trust aims to help riders through difficult times, whether that be recovering from an eventing accident or coping with mental health challenges. It also seeks to promote, research, develop and implement initiatives which will help maintain the overall safety and welfare of our riders.
A number of high-profile riders are already lending their support to the work of the Trust; including Tokyo Olympic Gold medallists, Oliver Townend, Tom McEwen and Laura Collett. Badminton Winner Laura knows first-hand how invaluable a helping hand can be when things go wrong – she benefitted greatly from being able to use the services at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s facility, Oaksey House, following a serious fall back in 2013.
Lycetts, one of Belsay International’s longest serving sponsors, has been instrumental in the launch of the BE Support Trust.
Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding research around the world to develop effective treatments for Spinal Cord Injury. They exist to beat paralysis and believe in a future where it is no longer a life sentence.
Their mission is to harness the power of international science to deliver revolutionary treatments. Thanks to the innovative research they have already funded many experimental treatments and have had ground-breaking changes on spinal cord injury and its effects in the laboratory and others are in human trials.
They are determined to see these treatments progress and transfer to the clinical environment where they can transform lives. Their research will also advance treatments for other neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone Disease, Strokes and Dementia.
- Spinal Research is the UK’s largest charity working to find a cure for paralysis.
- Every day in the UK four people injure their spinal cord and are told that they will never walk again
- Many of those injured are riders, highly at risk due to the nature of the sport, as we have seen particularly this season.
- However, the last few years have seen some huge scientific breakthroughs and scientists now believe that it will be possible to cure paralysis – but more funding is needed to get promising therapies and drugs through testing and into the hands of those who need them.
- One big and close to launch therapy is neuromodulation which has seen some astonishing results even in those injured for years. Trial participants have been able to stand up, take steps and have had hand function restored. Trials are taking place in the UK right now.
2022 Charities: British Eventing Support Trust & British Equestrians For Ukraine
Last year we raised over £5000 for deserving charities. A huge thank you to Former Olympic Medallist and British Team Stalwart Tina Cook, who led a Course Walk on Thursday afternoon to raise awareness and money for the British Eventing Support Trust, a new initiative modelled on the Injured Jockey Fund, which aims to help riders through difficult times, whether recovering from an accident or dealing with mental health issues. Belsay also raised funds for the humanitarian relief fund organised by British Equestrians for Ukraine. With raffles and auctions as well, more than £4,000 was raised over the weekend to be split between the two charities. The Belsay Dog Show was also a huge success attracting big entries and raising more than £1,000 for the Newcastle Cats and Dog Shelter.
2021 Charity: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle Hospitals Charity is the official charity of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, including the Royal Victoria Infirmary, the Freeman Hospital and community services.
The Charity supports initiatives that help to improve the health and well being of patients, staff and wider communities through compassionate and innovative healthcare, education and research.
Spending time in hospital can be tough for patients and their loved ones, Newcastle Hospitals Charity helps to improve their experience. They do this by funding activities that make a genuine difference, whether providing playrooms and toys for the youngest patients; support services for families experiencing financial difficulties while a loved one received life saving-treatment; or a dementia lounge that offers a calm and relaxed environment for their families or carers.
They also support staff health, well being and development and never had there been a more crucial time for us to be there for the hardworking teams within our hospitals and communities than today.
When the world was shocked to a standstill in 2020, teams at Newcastle Hospitals worked tirelessly and were consistently compassionate as they found new ways to ensure that patients, isolated from their families and friends have not felt alone.
Belsay Horse Trials is proud to have supported a number of local charities over the past few years. Including:
