Western Australian jockeys Craig Staples and Peter Knuckey are swapping their riding boots and breeches for shorts and runners on Sunday to compete in the WA City to Surf to raise money for the National Jockeys Trust.
The City to Surf is Western Australia’s largest community sporting event and will culminate in Perth on Sunday 31st August 2014 in an exciting 40th anniversary celebration.
Western Australian Jockeys Peter Knuckey and Craig Staples are leading the fundraising efforts for Team Jockey. Fellow riders Lisa Staples (Craig’s wife), Steven Parnham, Shaun McGruddy, and former jockeys Shane Godden and Ryan Martin will also be participating.
Family members are supporting Team Jockey with Peter Knuckey’s daughters Elizabeth and Helena, and Shaun McGruddy’s partner Alison Ryan joining the fundraising efforts this week.
In the 2013 City to Surf, Team Jockey raised $25,000, and this year decided to direct their fundraising efforts towards a charity that is close to their hearts.
“Our team is made up of jockeys, ex jockeys and family members. We risk our lives every day in our jobs, and have seen many of our fellow riders, and their families suffer as a result of injury and death following a race fall. We are competing in this event to raise funds for our fallen riders and awareness of the danger of our profession”, said Craig Staples, Western Australian Jockeys Association
The principal purpose of the National Jockeys Trust (NJT) is to provide support for former and current jockeys, and their families who are in necessitous circumstances as a result of serious injury, illness or death of a jockey.
2014 commemorates the 10-Year Anniversary of the National Jockeys Trust. During this time the NJT has provided assistance to over 200 jockeys and the families of jockeys who have been killed, in excess of $2 million.
Click here to donate to Team Jockey