In the past few years, horseracing, like many elite sports, has done its upmost to support and improve the mental health of its competitors and industry stakeholders, most of whom are adults.
The issue of mental health is not the reserve of sportsmen or grown-ups, and unfortunately it affects everyone, but especially devastating if it is as a repercussion of a child with a brain tumour.
One charitable foundation that provides support for children who are diagnosed with brain tumours - and their families - is Tom’s Trust in Cambridge, which neighbours British racing’s HQ, Newmarket. It was set up by husband-and-wife Andrew and Deborah Whiteley and is named for their son Tom, who tragically passed away aged just nine a year on from being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
One of the main purposes of the Whiteleys is to raise awareness to a wider audience, and one extraordinary person helping is fundraiser Ben Blowes, who aims to complete 31 marathons in 31 days - all under four hours!
Blowes, from Suffolk, known for completing the London Marathon with a tumble dryer on his back, is taking on the epic 812.2-mile challenge with the intention of raising £31,000 to support 31 children and their families with critical mental health support through the Trust (£1,000 will support one child with a brain tumour and their family for a year). However, at the time of writing donations stand at over £92,000.
Click here to make a donation. You can keep track of Ben’s Journey here.
Speaking on day 15 of the challenge, Blowes told the BBC that he was “tired” and “depleted”, but he added, “Every painful step that I take is nothing compared to what some of these kids are going through right now.”
Tom’s Trust says 62 percent of children experience a life-altering disability after diagnosis, which can include emotional, physical and mental damage, blindness, hearing loss, learning disabilities, anxiety, depression and social isolation.
Because of these devastating changes, children with brain tumours have the greatest need for mental health support of all the children treated for cancer. A third of children don’t survive a brain tumour and it is the biggest cancer killer of children under 16.
Tom’s Trust also supports families who lose their children to this terrible disease.