I've raised £5000 to Help re-build Edward Freeman's racehorse training team after his barn was destroyed by a Californian bush fire.
Organised by David Freeman
Story
Last Thursday, whilst he was staying with me in London, my brother Edward's horse-racing operation was wiped out by a Californian bush fire. Within a few hours of starting at midday, the fire had engulfed the training centre at San Luis Ray. Due to Edward's quick thinking, and the heroic actions of his manager Cassandra Branick and his five grooms, all of Edward's horses were evacuated safely. Neighbouring operations were not so fortunate. At least 46 horses have lost their lives.
Edward's barn, office, all his equipment, and the living quarters of the five grooms were incinerated. At one point it was feared that Edward's house, just over the road in Bonsall, was also destroyed, but it seems to have survived largely intact. The racing operation has been relocated temporarily to Del Mar, but the need for tack, feed, accomodation and support is very pressing.
As you may have seen there has been at least one large crowd-funding campaign to support the many people and businesses affected by this fire. The main focus of these appeals is also to rebuild the crucial training centre so it can resume operation as soon as possible. This is a more personal appeal for the many friends and acquaintances of Edward Freeman to help him and his team get through the challenges of the next few weeks and months. Anyone who has followed his thirty year career from Malton in Yorkshire, via Fort Erie in Canada, and finally to being a much respected and successful trainer in Southern California, will know how much Edward and his heroic team deserve our support at this time.
We aim to make this money available to Edward Freeman Racing as soon as possible, to tide them over the inevitably difficult period while San Luis Ray is rebuilt and the California racing community works out how to cope with what is a state-wide crisis.
It's not about how much you can give but how many people we can reach. So please spread the word.
Many thanks
I am enclosing some links to press coverage and video's of the events of last Thursday.
