A HORSE rider who took part in the first Macmillan’s ‘Ride of Their Lives’ has inspired her daughter to take part in the tenth fundraiser.

The charity horse race is marking its tenth anniversary this year, in which time over £1.2 million has been raised for people living with cancer.

Krista Brown from Sheriff Hutton competed in the first Macmillan ‘Ride of Their Lives’ race in 2012 and now her daughter Bella will take on the charity race ten years later.

Bella, the Visual Merchandise and Marketing Manager at Browns Department Store, said: “As I child I watched my mum prepare and train for the race, I felt inspired to take it on myself.

“These past few months of fitting in training for the race have been a challenge but overall a really positive experience. I’ve ridden horses my entire life so always felt very confident, but I had a lot to learn about technique, balance and stamina.

“The team behind the race have been really supportive, I’ve been riding out weekly with Jacqueline Coward and I can’t thank her enough for the support and encouragement she’s given me.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have been selected for the race and incredibly proud to race at York Racecourse on the tenth anniversary of this incredible challenge. To be part of an event that has raised so much for charity over the years is truly humbling.

“One in two of us will get cancer and like most people my family has been touched by this dreadful disease, my aunty passed away from cancer at a very young age, and my godfather sadly died from cancer last year, I’ll be riding in their memory and honour.”

Bella is joined by eleven other amateur riders, Michael Andrews, George Atkinson, Samantha Brown, Lucy Horan, Jane Horner, Kerry Humphries, Bethany Johnson, Wendy Normile, Morgan Faye Prescott, Issy Saxby and Carolyn Woods. The riders selected to take part can expect to race in front of around 25,000 and to date they have raised over £30,000 for Macmillan.

The fundraising challenge has attracted amateur jockeys from all walks of life over the decade including Yorkshire’s Lady Halifax and celebrity Chris Hughes from Love Island, the oldest rider to take part was 69 years old.

The Macmillan ‘Ride of Their Lives’ race will be the first race of the day on Saturday, June 11.

William Derby, Chief Executive at York Racecourse, said: “At York Racecourse we’re incredibly proud to host the Macmillan ‘Ride of Their Lives’ race which has raised so much for people living with cancer and generated so many positive and inspirational memories for our intrepid riders.

“It’s amazing to see the challenge continue to grow and remain one of the most successful charity horse races in the UK.

"Bella’s mum Krista was a trailblazing rider in our first charity race, and it is tremendous that a decade later Bella is following in her hoof prints."

You can support the twelve jockeys by donating to their JustGiving page; https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/macmillanraceday2022