Rugby MP Mark Pawsey visited Coral’s town centre shop ahead of the 2024 Grand National to place a charity bet in support of the OurJay Foundation.
Although The Goffer, Mark’s choice of runner, wasn’t a winner, the Betting and Gaming Council still made a £250 donation to OurJay to help support their vital work providing accessible defibrillators. The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) is the standards body for the regulated UK betting and gaming industry. Before the Grand National they invited MPs, including Mark, to visit a bookies in their constituency to place the free charity bet ahead of the world’s greatest steeplechase.
The Grand National is the most popular horserace in the world and took place last Saturday, at the world-famous Aintree Racecourse. The sporting spectacular is watched by around 600 million people across 140 countries, and it is estimated over 13 million adults in the UK, including many here in Rugby, have a flutter on the outcome. Shops like Coral’s in Rugby also help support thousands of high street jobs and help to create footfall in our town centres, with 89% of betting shop customers saying that they combine their trips to the bookies with visits to other local businesses.
Rugby MP Mark Pawsey commented:
“The Grand National holds a special place in the calendar not just for fans of racing, but for the nation as a whole. I know that pubs and bookies around Rugby were packed with people enjoying this great race and the effect it has on the economy is significant – as well as providing thrills and spills for everyone watching.”
Mark continued:
“I was delighted to visit Coral in Rugby to meet the staff and customers and take up BGC's generous offer of a charity bet in support of the OurJay Foundation, which has done incredible and lifesaving work around Rugby in memory of Jamie Rees. The visit was also a chance to discuss the incredibly important work that Coral and the BGC have been doing on safer gambling and ensuring that all those who enjoy a flutter can do so responsibly.”
Naomi Rees-Issitt, Chair of the OurJay Foundation, added:
OurJay are so grateful to Mark Pawsey (MP) for naming us to receive this great donation. On a more personal note, since Jamie’s family approached Mark Pawsey in January 2022, for advice and to raise concerns, following the awful loss of our Jamie, he has consistently raised our concerns by letter and in person at Prime Ministers questions. There have been literally dozens of issues we have wanted to raise, from ambulance delays to legal advice around defibrillator vandalism and also concerns about grant access for defibrillators in the community, but whatever we have asked, this has been followed up by Mark and his team. Sometimes, politics can feel very negative, but I feel that we have received support from Mark Pawsey and he has fought for answers on our behalf.”