Racing stars and fans unite to raise £30,000 in support of injured jockey Graham Lee 

THE horse racing family has united to raise £30,000 – and counting – in support of injured jockey Graham Lee.

Grand National hero Lee, 47, remains in a critical condition in hospital after suffering a terrible fall at Newcastle last Friday night.

A Just Giving page for jockey Graham Lee has raised over £30,000PA

AP:Associated Press

Lee won the Grand National in 2004 aboard Amberleigh House[/caption]

His daughter, Amy, started a Just Giving page on Monday with the description: “The Injured Jockeys Fund are an incredible charity which will be there every step of the way for dad’s recovery.

“Anything at all is appreciated.

“1000’s of people have either posted, commented or shared on social media so if everyone were to donate £1 it would make a huge difference.”

And both racing stars and fans answered the call, with the total surging past £30,000 on Tuesday morning.

Among the famous names to donate and leave messages of support were his weighing room colleagues Oisin Murphy, Rossa Ryan and Saffie Osborne, while trainers, owners, racing chiefs and fans have also made donations.

Yesterday, the 20-time champion jockey and president of the Injured Jockey’s Fund, AP McCoy, revealed he was devastated by Lee’s injury.

He said: “Like everyone in racing, we at the IJF are all devastated with the news of the injuries that Graham Lee sustained from his horrific fall.

“All our thoughts are with Graham, his wife Becky, and their family.

“As bad as Graham’s injuries are, please do rest assured that our team at the IJF will look after his needs to assist him in his recovery and predicament for as long as it takes.

“Whatever help he and his family need, we will be there to provide it.”

Lee suffered an “unstable cervical fracture causing damage to the spinal cord” after falling from Ben Macdui as the horse left the stalls at Newcastle last Friday.

He was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by ambulance and remains in intensive care.

He won the Grand National in 2004 aboard Amberleigh House for Red Rum’s legendary trainer, Ginger McCain.

He transitioned to become a Flat jockey in 2012 and enjoyed Group 1 success in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Trip To Paris, as well as the Nunthorpe Stakes on Alpha Delphini.