HUNDREDS of people turned out to support the MND community in a huge fundraising event at Newbury Racecourse.
More than 450 guests came together at ex-jockey Steve Jobar’s special race day on Friday (March 22), which is expected to have raised a staggering £175,000.
Mr Jobar, a former champion jump jockey and glider pilot from Wickham, was diagnosed with the degenerative motor neurone disease in April 2022, which has robbed him of his voice and his ability to swallow food.
Some of the biggest names from racing rallied to support the event, which included a Champagne reception and lunch; auctions; a raffle for a car; and a sponsored race in Mr Jobar’s name.
His wife Dottie Channing-Williams beautifully captured the spirit of the event when she said: “The community is full of hope, raising funds to spare future generations from this awful disease.
“A huge thank you to the MND Association, especially our Reading and West Berkshire Branch, for being our safety net.”
For Mr Jobar, who will be 75 on Good Friday, the event was “one of the best days of his life”.
He said afterwards: “If you could bottle the feelings coming from all in the room I think we would have a cure for MND tomorrow.
“What an extraordinary day it turned out to be. Both positive, generous and fun.
“I may not be functioning right but it was still one of the best days of my life.
”Of course, without my committee it would never have happened – what a team they turned out to be.”
He was joined on the day by his good friend John Francome, former jump jockey, trainer and broadcaster, and trainer Richard Phillips, who both conducted the live auction of items and experiences.
Sky Sports’ presenter Mike Cattermole hosted the lunch and the guests included former top jockeys and trainers as well as two world champion glider pilots.
The star lot at the auction was a magnificent oil painting by Peter Curling of Mr Jobar on Triumph Hurdle winner Heighlin, which was bought for £7,000 by David Elsworth, his trainer.
The online silent auction, which was held in the run up to the event, included lots such as a morning on the gallops with Paul Nicholls, including breakfast and tickets for racing at Taunton or Wincanton; a round of golf for two people with Sir A P McCoy and John Francome at Frilford Heath or Sunningdale; two tickets to The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Award Lunch at the Dorchester in November; tickets to The Eagles farewell tour in Manchester in May; and four debenture seats for England v South Africa rugby at Twickenham in November.
Funds are still coming in to boost the proceeds, which will be split between MND research and the MND Association’s Reading and West Berkshire Branch.
You can still donate here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/stevejobarmnd
The charity said it was “over the moon” with the amount of funds and awareness of MND raised by Mr Jobar and it was grateful to all those who so generously contributed to the success of the event.
