Spinal Injuries Association welcome new sponsorship at Cheltenham

Andy Stewart, the leading racehorse owner, has generously sponsored a Listed handicap hurdle at The November Meeting in mid-November at Cheltenham in support of the Spinal Injuries Association.

The Listed Handicap Hurdle also commemorates the superstar hurdler and record-breaker Big Buck’s. The race recognises the important work of the Spinal Injuries Association.

One of Andy Stewart’s sons, Paul, suffered a severe spinal injury in a snowboarding accident in December 2008, and was paralysed from the waist down. He was told initially by doctors that he would never walk again, but he proved them wrong and even went on to compete in triathlons.

Explaining his decision to sponsor once again at Cheltenham, Andy Stewart said: “My younger son Paul is disabled and I am very involved with the Spinal Injuries Association. The Spinal Injuries Association helped him enormously and he is able to get around and drive a car – he will be coming to Cheltenham on the Saturday of The November Meeting. I thought it would be a good idea to link up the Spinal Injuries Association with Big Buck’s.

“When Big Buck’s won his 18th race in succession at Newbury in 2012, Simon Crisford came up to me and said he had Sheikh Mohammed on the phone to offer his congratulations – that is the kind of horse Big Buck’s is. I also remember being with Andrew Lloyd-Webber and a boy came over wanting an autograph – we thought he wanted Andrew’s but he said ‘No, I want Mr Big Buck’s!’ and handed his pen to me! Any prize money my horses earn over the three days of The November Meeting will go to the Spinal Injuries Association.”

Nik Hartley OBE, Chief Executive of Spinal Injuries Association, added: “We are most grateful to Andy Stewart and his family for supporting the 50,000 people who live with spinal cord injury in the UK.

“Our involvement in The November Meeting at Cheltenham will help us to support more people like Paul Stewart, so they have the best chance to rebuild their life after injury and achieve their full potential. We are only touching the surface of what is needed.”

The November Meeting runs from Friday, 15 November to Sunday, 17 November inclusive. Find out more about the Spinal Injuries Association here.