Wightlink ferry customers support the Injured Jockeys Fund
4th April 2022
Generous Wightlink customers who bought the Isle of Wight ferry company’s charity calendar for 2022 have raised £450 for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
The calendar features striking pictures of Wightlink’s ships and ports, all taken by crew members and other colleagues. Engineer Phil Sherring captured the photo of Wight Sky, crossing between Lymington and Yarmouth, next to the sailing ship Golden Horizon. Judges chose the image to grace the front cover and he was asked to choose the charity to benefit.
Phil, who has just retired from the company, topped up the £450 with £50 of his own money to make the charity donation a round £500. He is a horseracing enthusiast and frequently visits meetings at racecourses around the south with his wife June. The Sherrings were invited to be the Directors’ guests at a race day at Wincanton in Somerset and presented a cheque for £500 to jockeys Brendan Powell and Richie McLernon, representing the Injured Jockeys Fund.
The charity was founded in 1964 following devastating accidents in the Grand National which ended with two jockeys suffering severe paralysis. Since then, the Fund has supported almost 900 jockeys and their families and has paid out more than £20m in charitable assistance.
“Most jockeys are not very well paid and a fall during a race could spell the end of their career,” explains Phil. “The Fund is always there to help and it’s a very worthwhile cause.”
Paul Taplin from the Injured Jockeys Fund says: “We are very grateful to Wightlink and Phil Sherring for choosing to support the Injured Jockeys Fund and to Wincanton Races for being such generous hosts.”
Picture caption: Phil and June Sherring (centre) present Wightlink’s cheque to jockeys Brendan Powell and Richie McLernon, representing the Injured Jockeys Fund at Wincanton racecourse. Photo by Matthew Webb.
For more information, please contact:
Duty Media Officer
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