Thomas Russell fund   31 Jul 2014

Thomas Russell fund

by Michael Guerin

Racing industry participants are being given a unique opportunity to help severely injured jockey Thomas Russell.

Russell remains in intensive care in Christchurch Hospital with no feeling below his neck after a trackwork fall at Bulls last month.

Doctors have inserted a device in his chest to help it inflate properly with the assistance of a ventilator, which is why he has not yet been moved to Burwood Spinal Unit.

Those close to Russell are working with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to make it easier for racing industry participants to donate to helping Russell with his future.

“We want to give them the opportunity to donate even a small part of any raceday earnings or winnings,” friend and jockey Darryl Bradley said.

“This way a jockey or trainer can donate a percentage of any money won by a certain horse or horses they are associated with. And we are hoping some owners will want to do the same with their horses over the next month.

“It is great NZTR are helping out through their website because that makes the whole process easier.”

NZTR GM Finance and IT Campbell Moncur said NZTR will have an Authority to Deduct form available on the NZTR website (www.nzracing.co.nz) on Friday to facilitate donations.

All that needs to happen is the designated racing manager of a horse to complete the form and send it to NZTR and the agreed prize money deduction will be taken care of.

“We are proud to be able to offer some help with the logistics because obviously people in the industry are aware of Thomas’s situation,” Moncur said.

The TAB is also helping Russell with 10 per cent of all bets placed in the Jockeys’ Challenge for the month of August being donated to him.

ENDS

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