AN amateur rider who was seriously injured from a fall while training for a horse race, is hosting a charity event for the air ambulance service who came to her aid.
Morgan Prescott, 27, from Temple Sowerby near Penrith, was due to join other amateur riders from across the UK to race thoroughbred horses on York racecourse, as part of Macmillan’s ‘Ride of Their Lives’.
She was expected to complete six months of intense jockey training and fundraising before the prestigious event, but unfortunately on 15 May she had a fall on the gallops in Hackthorpe.
Recalling the incident, Morgan said: “It was a Sunday morning and we were on the gallops, and the horse got keen and jumped out of the end of the gallops and then we both hit the floor.
“I was quite calm and just laid there thinking what a terrible situation, this is a bad Sunday. I felt like I needed to pop my hip, but I knew I shouldn’t do that, so I waited and saw the air ambulance come over and land in the field.”
It took just seven minutes for the critical care team from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) to fly from their base in Langwathby, Penrith to the scene of the incident.
She said: “The paramedic Lee Salmon identified that I’d broken my hip and gave me some strong painkillers which helped a lot.”
As well as a broken hip, Morgan sustained bruising to her lung and kidney, sprained thumbs and shoulder ligament damage.
She was airlifted to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and spent five days there before coming home to continue her recovery.
Despite no longer being able to compete in the charity race, which was taking place on 11 June, she was determined to still be involved in the event and completed the nine-furlong course in 28 minutes on her crutches and raised £9,000.
Morgan Prescott has since visited GNAAS’ base in Langwathby and met paramedic Lee Salmon before witnessing the team being called out to an incident.
She said: “It was great to visit and based on what I’ve seen, there’s obviously a lot going on behind the scenes to make the service work.
“I was privileged to see the team getting called out to help someone and see where the money that’s donated is spent.”
To help support GNAAS, Morgan is hosting a Bingo event on 25 March 2023 at Holesfoot, Brackenslack Lane, Penrith, CA10 3HX.
She said: “We will have various rounds of the game and head to head challenges throughout the night each with a prize for the winner, intertwined with music, dancing, a raffle and a charity auction. Essentially it will be a big party all in aid of GNAAS.”
Mr Salmon added: “It was fantastic to see Morgan looking so well, and we are thrilled to hear she plans to fundraise for GNAAS. We rely on charitable donations and need to raise 7.7m a year to remain operational so we really appreciate her support.”
Tickets for the event cost £25 each and can be purchased by calling Morgan on 07769271863.
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