Ben Fund Bonanza: All Systems Go!

Mar 14th, 2020
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SCUNTHORPE SPEEDWAY is very proud to be staging the Ben Fund Bonanza at the Eddie Wright Raceway later today (Saturday, 2pm).

The Bonanza raises funds for the vitally important Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund (SRBF) charity, which provides money for both short-term and long-term injured riders, as well as offering them other crucial support when needed.

The SRBF is helping the family of the late Danny Ayres – the Scunthorpe rider who lost his battle with mental health last month – with assistance and ongoing support.

Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey, also the Chairman for British Speedway, said: “I simply cannot express how important it is for people to support both the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund and the Ben Fund Bonanza meeting itself.”

The guests of honour at the meeting are Ricky Ashworth and Sam Norris, two riders who have experienced life-changing speedway accidents.

In the case of Ashworth, his accident occurred during a Scunthorpe v Berwick meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway in August 2013. He was in a coma for 91 days, and he will be an emotional return to the track for the first time since his accident.

Speaking to Speedway Star magazine recently, Ricky said: “We are going to be going to Scunthorpe.

“That’s where I had my unfortunate accident. It will be tough, but we have moved on a lot from there.

“The Ben Fund is one of the most important things to help speedway riders. We have to support them as much as they support us.

“I also want to go back [to Scunthorpe] and see the paramedic who kept me alive. He was also at the Championship Riders’ Individual at Sheffield which I attended last year.”

Ricky’s dad Dave gave up his job as a tree surgeon to become Ricky’s designated carer at their Salford home.

Dave Ashworth said of the Ben Fund: “It’s a Godsend. We can’t thank Ben Fund organiser Paul Ackroyd and his wife Gill enough. They’ve helped us and become good friends, as with all people in speedway.”

Admission prices are £20 adults, £15 concessions, £10 for children aged 12-16 and under 12s go free. A souvenir programme is available for £4, while gates are due to open at noon.

2020 BEN FUND BONANZA LINE-UP:
Josh Auty, James Wright, Aaron Summers, Ben Barker, Steve Worrall, Danny King, Lewis Kerr, Tom Bacon, Paul Starke, Tero Aarnio, Thomas Jorgensen, Connor Mountain, Andreas Jensen, Anders Rowe, Simon Lambert, Kasper Andersen.

(Quotes reproduced with permission from Speedway Star – from an original article by Phil Chard)

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