A brave Co Antrim teenager who beat brain cancer will be hoping for the luck of the Irish later today when a horse named in her honour takes part in Cheltenham Festival.
Danielle’s Journey will take part in the Mares Novice Hurdle at the popular race meeting.
The filly is named after 19-year-old Danielle McGriskin from Upper Ballinderry, near Lisburn.
The battling teenager has raised more than £100,000 for charity after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and hydrocephalus in 2011.
Since then she received regular treatment and started a blog called Danielle’s Journey in which she details her fight against her condition.
After hearing of her story Realta Horse Racing Club contacted the teenager’s mother and offered to name the horse after her.
Club spokesman Sean Maxwell said the decision was an easy one to make and described Danielle as an “inspirational young woman”.
“We hoped the horse would take on the characteristics of its namesake, she is tough, resilient and determine,” he said.
Mr Maxwell said he will be hoping for a repeat of last St Patrick’s Day when Danielle’s Journey won at Down Royal race meeting.
Mr Maxwell revealed that Danielle has recently been gifted five percent of the horse named after her which means that a similar percentage of all winnings will go to her nominated charity, the Brain Tumour Charity.
She also raises awareness of the medical condition through The Danielle McGriskin Fund.
