WellChild announced as official Cheltenham Festival 2022 charity partner

21 February 2022

Children’s charity WellChild has been named as the official charity partner of next month’s Cheltenham Festival. The four-day racing event will take place at Prestbury Park from 15 to 18 March.

WellChild is the national charity for seriously ill children and has its headquarters in Royal Crescent, Cheltenham. It helps thousands of children and young people living with serious illness or exceptional health needs across the UK.

Without the type of support it offers, many can spend months or even years in hospital. Meanwhile those who are at home are constantly challenged by inconsistent or inadequate levels of support.

The charity helps children and young people living with serious health needs to have the best chance to thrive and to be properly supported at home with their families. WellChild was the official charity partner for the first time in 2021 when The Festival was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colin Dyer, chief executive of WellChild, said: “We are delighted to be working with The Jockey Club again this year as official charity partner of the Cheltenham Festival 2022. We would like to thank The Jockey Club and everyone involved with The Festival for the energy, enthusiasm and hard work they have put into including WellChild in this year’s event and supporting our work with seriously ill children and their families across the UK.

“In fact, we would like to thank the entire racing community - from owners, trainers and jockeys through to racing fans everywhere, for the huge boost they are giving to families with complex needs children. Times are very tough for the families that WellChild support and those difficult days look set to continue.

“Thanks to you we can offer hope and practical help to them as they carry on the struggle to give their children the very best chance to thrive.” In recognition of the partnership between WellChild and The Jockey Club, the horse walkway at the racecourse will be renamed the WellChild Walkway for 2022.

It will be opened on the first day of The Festival by former champion jockey Sir AP McCoy, Ed Chamberlin of ITV Racing and Mr Dyer.