Wincanton Racecourse generously hosted a successful day in aid of Combat Stress
The Jockey Club and Wincanton Racecourse generously hosted a phenomenally successful day in aid of Combat Stress, the veteran’s mental health charity, on Sunday 27th October.
This year is the centenary of Combat Stress which was founded in 1919 as the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society. The charity was an early pioneer in responding to the profound mental scars sustained by service personnel. As awareness of mental illness grows, and as the extent of the need for treatment becomes ever more apparent, the charity continues to provide invaluable support to those who suffer as a result of traumatic events experienced during their time with the Armed Forces. The demand for the charity’s services has grown year by year, and in the last year it has helped directly over 3,400 veterans.
On the raceday, which took place during half term, there was a record turnout of racegoers, including some 470 people who enjoyed a sit-down luncheon and tea in the Paddock Pavilion and supported a silent and live auction of 69 lots. The sun shone, racing was superb and overall, just over £65k was raised for Combat Stress.
“I am enormously grateful to the Wincanton team for allowing us to invade them once again. The successful dovetailing together of the committee, Wincanton/Jockey Club and Combat Stress representatives into a single team has been critical to achieving so much more than I had hoped for.”
- Major Andrew Johnston, Raceday Committee Chairman
“[The day was] an event that every single punter would have enjoyed on the canvas that is Wincanton Racecourse with its wonderful chair, management team and staff every one of whose mission seems to be to smile, be helpful and cheerfully efficient.”
- Lieutenant General Andrew Graham, recently retired Chairman of Combat Stress
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