Racing Welfare breaks through £50,000 fundraising target with Furlong Factor

Racing Welfare's efforts to raise much-needed funding have been given a major boost by its novel Furlong Factor competition, exceeding the £50,000 target set by organisers.

The popular initiative, which was won by Lara Telfer, regional marketing manager at Cheltenham for Jockey Club Racecourses, takes the current sum raised by the charity's Covid-19 Emergency Appeal to £210,344.

The cancellation of planned fundraising events this year sees the support group face a £500,000 income deficit at a time when demand for Racing Welfare’s services has never been so high.

In a normal year, its welfare team would support around 2,500 people, but there have already been more than 3,000 individuals get in touch with the charity for help in 2020.

Speaking after the total of £51,430 was revealed, Racing Welfare chief executive Dawn Goodfellow said: "We have been overwhelmed by the response the Furlong Factor received and by the generosity of everyone who has donated to our Emergency Appeal.

Lara Telfer: winner of the 2020 Furlong Factor

"I hope that the competition has also helped to make people more aware of the support on offer from Racing Welfare, particularly during these difficult times."

She added: "We are hugely grateful for all those who got behind the initiative and helped to make it such a success."

The project asked people to donate the equivalent of their usual favourite night out to the support group during the social media-driven competition.

Donations to the charity’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal are still being encouraged, with contributions welcomed by clicking here.

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