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Steve Jobar Supporting MND With Fundraising Lunch And Auction
The winner of over 130 races throughout his career in the saddle, former National Hunt jockey Steve Jobar rode Heighlin to victory in the 1980 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Having retired from riding in 1985, Jobar concentrated on a new career as a builder whilst spending much of his spare time as a glider pilot.
Jobar was tragically diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2022, the nerve degeneration condition without a cure or any effective treatment. Alongside the late Doddie Weir and inspirational Rob Burrow, Steve Jobar went public with his illness to fund research into finding a cure for MND.
On Friday, March 22, a fundraising lunch for 450 guests will take place during Newbury’s BetVictor Jumps Season Finale meeting. All 45 available tables have been sold for the day which also features The Steve Jobar Supports MND Handicap Hurdle Race as the fifth race on the racecard. Former weighing room colleague of Jobar’s, John Francome, and trainer Richard Phillips, will be overseeing a live auction on the day featuring seven exclusive lots. There is also an online silent auction consisting of 76 items including sporting memorabilia, tickets, holidays, stable tours as well as money can’t buy experiences. A raffle will be run throughout the day with the first prize on offer of a new car or £13,000.
The lunch is on track to raise over £100,000 for the MND Association. The money raised will be split with half going towards MND research to better understand the disease and help find a cure and the remaining funds to Jobar’s local MNDA support team. The support of the MND community, particularly the Reading and West Berkshire branch have been invaluable to Steve and Dottie, his partner of 44 years:
“We couldn’t possibly have managed without them. They are amazing and always there for us and everyone else who suffers from MND.”
Anyone wishing to support Steve Jobar’s fundraising for the MND Association can donate on his JustGiving page here or bid on one of the many fantastic silent auction lots here. The auction will remain open until 4:45pm on Friday 22nd March.
