Charity founded in memory of Kilkenny College student Tiggy donates €3,000 for mental health supports for racing industry
A charity founded in memory of a young Kilkenny College student who passed away in a tragic riding accident has raised and donated €3,000 to equuip for mental health supports for the Irish racing industry.
Tiggy’s Trust is named in memory of Tiggy Hancock - a talented rider, a beloved daughter, adored sister and loyal friend - who died in 2021, aged 15. Tiggy touched the lives of so many in her short life - her golden heart, infectious fun personality and cheeky smile extended to all who knew her.
The Trust honours Tiggy’s memory by spreading kindness, generosity and inclusivity that was an integral part of her personality.
Tiggy’s Trust uses funds raised to assist young people by offering mental health support and by providing training and education to help young aspiring equestrians achieve their goals. As part of this, Tiggy’s young friends were asked to select charities involved with mental health projects that were close to their hearts to donate funds to.
Two of her friends, Josh Williamson and Rosie-Mae O’Grady have selected equuip for their donation. The Tiggy’s Trust donation to equuip comes under the ‘Young Lives Lost’ initiative.
Mental health supports and services are a key pillar of the work that equuip, Horse Racing Ireland’s education, training and people welfare department, provide to help support individuals working in the racing industry and the €3,000 donation from Tiggy’s Trust will go towards funding mental health support for jockeys and young people aspiring to be jockeys in Ireland.
Equuip currently have an industry assistance programme available to all working in the industry which offers 24 support, seven days a week, 365 days a year which is a free and confidential service. In addition to this they have recently appointed a People Welfare Coordinator to develop, deliver and support industry-specific mental health and physical wellbeing programmes nationally for stable and stud staff, jockeys, breeders and trainers.
Elaine Burke, equuip Manager, said: “We are so honoured to be receiving this donation from Tiggy’s Trust, and we look forward to working with Josh and Rosie-Mae on how best to use the funds in honour of Tiggy.”
Jennifer Pugh, IHRB Senior Medical Officer, said: "We are very grateful to Tiggy’s Trust and to Josh Williamson and Rosie-Mae O’Grady for choosing the jockey population for their donation. It is clear the memory of Tiggy lives on in the lives of those she touched, and I look forward to working with Josh and Rosie-Mae with equuip to put these funds to good use in offering continued support to jockeys."