Sydney trainer James Webb is facing an uncertain future after he sustained serious injuries at Bankstown Paceway on Sunday June 14. James was working a horse when he was thrown from his sulky and damaged vertebrae in his neck. As a result James was rushed to hospital and while he has made some progress since, he is still facing some severe consequences as a result of the fall.
James is still recovering in hospital and is yet to regain feeling in his hands. The Bankstown Harness Racing Club President Les Bentley has announced there will be a special fundraiser for James and his family at the race meeting on Thursday 27th August.
“We really hope the harness racing industry gets behind Jimmy, he needs all the support we can give him at the moment so that is why we are having a special function at the Bankstown City Cup meeting on Thursday night August 27,” Bentley said.
“Tickets for the evening are $100 per head or a table of ten will cost $800 which will include a meal, beer, wine and soft drink and I would encourage those that would like to attend to call the Bankstown Club on (02) 9708 4111.”
An auction will be held on the night with all proceeds going to James and his family.
“We have about 10 memorabilia items to auction at the moment and if anybody would like to donate other lots it would be very much appreciated.
“We have been working closely with Reid Sanders from HRNSW and we are hoping Jimmy will be able to attend for a couple of hours on the night, he is still in a wheelchair in hospital, but he has started to get some feeling back in his arms and legs.”
Bankstown’s chief track curator and operations manager Steve Thurlow confirmed the rehabilitation process has been a slow one for James.
“Jimmy can’t swallow and he is basically on a liquid diet, but he can talk and he remembers clearly what happened on the morning of the fall,” Thurlow said.
“He has physiotherapy twice a day but it is going to be a long process, he has had bone removed from his hip and it has been grafted onto his neck, the doctors are hoping the bone takes and starts to knit, but there is still some swelling of his spinal cord also.”
Thurlow is calling on the industry to help one of its own and believes there will be support from around the country.
“Harness racing is very supportive when someone falls on hard times, Jimmy needs us all to rally around him, it is a very worrying time at the moment and if we can raise some money for him it might take a little bit of the financial pressure off him and his family.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 31 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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To arrange an interview or for further information please contact:
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Name:
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Greg Hayes
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Position:
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Media Manager
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ghayes@hrnsw.com.au
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