Jockeys raise funds for African famine

After the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Chase (3rd race, 6.15pm) at the Festival today, jockeys Barry Geraghty, Paul Carberry, Davy Russell and many of their weigh-room colleagues will mingle in the racecourse enclosure to raise money for GOAL’s relief work in the Horn of Africa.

Geraghty said: “It’s really terrible to see how the famine has affected the people of Africa, so myself and about 15 other jockeys are going to do a bucket collection after the 3rd race at Galway today. I’m sure the racegoers will give us plenty of support and donations. All monies raised will be donated to GOAL.”

Over 11 million people are threatened with starvation in the Horn of Africa, because of drought and famine. GOAL is working at refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, helping deliver food and emergency aid to over 500,000 people, most of whom have fled Somalia, the worst affected country.

GOAL has been responding to the crisis in the Somali region of Ethiopia since January 2011, and has treated 13,500 children for malnutrition.

Since its inception, GOAL has spent in excess of €720 million on humanitarian programmes in more than 50 countries. GOAL was founded in Dublin in 1977 by former sports journalist and Chief Executive, John O’Shea.