A STAGGERING £103,000 was raised for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in memory of Droitwich rider Charlotte Coles, 23, who was involved in a tragic equestrian incident in 2011.
Charlotte’s parents, Roger and Diane, and Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation, where Charlotte was the yards former head girl, have been raising money for the past 10 years for the charity.
Open days at Froglands Stud Farm, evening events and the annual sponsorship of a race in Charlotte’s memory at Stratford Racecourse are a few of the numerous fundraising initiatives undertaken.
Claire Dyson, on behalf of Claire Dyson Racing and Rehabilitation and the Cole family, said: “While the reason we fundraise for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is out of tragic loss, we are extremely proud to have reached this incredible milestone having supported the charity over the last decade.
“We would like to offer our enormous thanks to the many people who have supported our fundraising activities.
“Their unwavering support and kindness have been very much appreciated and gives us some comfort in honouring Charlotte’s memory.”
To bolster the total, the National Trainers Federation have kindly donated £500 on the day in memory of Charlotte.
After the family handed over the cheque at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, a memorial race was held in memory of Charlotte at 3:11pm on October 27.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Sadly, our advanced critical care paramedics and doctors are called out to a horse rider in desperate need of enhanced pre-hospital care every week, so support from the equestrian community is critical to maintaining our service in the rural communities we serve.
“The Cole family and Claire Dyson are very dear to us at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and we are continually grateful for their unfaltering support of our organisation.
“Their milestone £103,000 donation over the last ten years has enabled us to assist more than 60 patients in their critical hour of need at the scene of their incident.”
