Lorna Brooke charity target in sight as fundraisers prepare to saddle up

Jockey Tabitha Worsley is hoping to smash the £10,000 fundraising target for a daunting cycling challenge in memory of Lorna Brooke.

The conditional rider will tackle the 516 miles of the North Coast 500 route in Scotland, beginning on July 31, with some of Brooke's family and friends and they are £665 shy of hitting their target with all proceeds going towards the Injured Jockeys Fund and Retraining of Racehorses charity.

There was an outpouring of emotion after Brooke's tragic death following a fall at Taunton in April, but Worsley is hoping the charity challenge will leave happy lasting memories of her friend and weighing-room colleague.

"It would mean a lot to us, those two charities were close to Lorna's heart. As a jockey the IJF is unbelievable, as well as RoR – even more so with what's happened in recent days," she said. "The more we can raise for those charities the better, and what better cause than doing it in memory for Lorna?

"Myself, Kate Jones and Rachael Bradbury are doing the whole thing, and Meg Thomas is definitely doing the first two days and is hoping to do the third day. We were really good friends with Lorna, but we didn't know each other very well before.

Tabitha Worsley: 'It's not going to be easy doing it without Lorna, but we've seen how many people respected and loved her'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"What happened has brought us closer together. It's not going to be easy doing it without Lorna, but we've seen how many people respected and loved her. It showed the measure of her."

They will be joined throughout by Brooke's parents, Sir Alistair and Lady Susan Brooke, and will hold a special celebration together for her on what would have been her 38th birthday on August 1.

The challenge has been made tougher for Worsley after she suffered an elbow injury, for which she has an MRI scan on Wednesday, but she is determined to battle through the pain barrier to the finish.

She added: "Training has been limited, we're sort of taking the approach of getting out whenever we can, but when Lorna did John O'Groats to Land's End she didn't train, so we'll wing it like she did!

"The elbow won't stop me, if it's heavily strapped that's the way it'll be. It's going to be a week of pain and won't be easy, but the reason we're doing it will push us through, no matter how tough it is."

You can donate to the Lorna Brooke Memorial and Fundraising North Coast 500 challenge on the JustGiving page here

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