A BEREAVED father is continuing in his quest to improve mental health provision in the horseracing industry after the tragic death of his young son.
Simon Jones launched an appeal to raise vital funds for Racing Welfare after his son, Tim - a promising amateur jockey - took his own life in May this year aged just 17.
Following his death, Mr Jones raised thousands of pounds for Racing Welfare and funds have already been utilised to deliver a mental health first aid course in the racehorse training centre of Middleham where Tim worked for trainer Micky Hammond.
A painting by artist Diane Marshall of Tim riding on the gallops in Middleham was presented to Mr Jones on Saturday at Market Rasen Racecourse and it will now be auctioned as part of a fundraising event at Aintree Racecourse on April 2, 2020.
The Liverpool venue will also play host to a 150-mile sponsored bike ride from Cheltenham Racecourse to Aintree Racecourse by a team of riders including Mr Jones.
In response to the amount of support and generosity of all that have donated thus far, Mr Jones said: “The response to our campaign, launched in memory of Tim has been overwhelming.
“With the money raised, we now start the job of delivering the training that will help us realise our initial ambition of a trained mental health first aider in each yard.
“It is wonderful that our generous donors can now see how their money is being used and how the welfare of our racing colleagues is being supported.”
All funds raised from the Remembering Tim Jones fund will be used to help increase support available to those working within the horseracing industry that may be struggling with mental health issues.
The fund is being used specifically to train some of those working in the industry to become qualified mental health first aiders to enable them to be able to support anyone in need.
Speaking in the summer after Tim’s death, Mr Jones said young people were sometimes reluctant to talk about their problems, and the only sign that something might be wrong with Tim was that he had been unusually irritable and short-tempered.
Mr Jones feels that if mental health first aiders were in stable yards, such problems might be picked up and help provided to prevent further tragedies.
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