Northern Ireland

Co Down woman who suffered head injury when thrown from horse hoping to raise £40,000 for Air Ambulance

Co Down woman Joanne Clough pictured with her horse, Juno
Co Down woman Joanne Clough pictured with her horse, Juno Co Down woman Joanne Clough pictured with her horse, Juno

A Co Down woman who suffered a serious head injury when she was thrown from her horse has set out to raise £40,000 for the Air Ambulance to repay them for coming to her aid.

Joanne Clough, who lives in Crossgar, remembers nothing of the accident last September, which led to her losing her short term memory for two months.

The 43-year-old also fractured her jaw in three places and damaged the sight in her right eye. She also suffered extensive bruising.

The mother-of-one, who has been riding horses since she was nine, had been at Ardnacashel Equestrian Centre near Comber for a show jumping competition on September 19 last year.

The lawyer was in the practice ring just before she was due to compete when her horse, Juno - who had an injured back at the time though no-one knew - became spooked by a nearby noise.

It is thought as Juno bucked high, it tweaked her back injury and as a result, Joanne was thrown to the ground.

As she fell, the 43-year-old hit her head on as stone wall and was knocked unconscious.

The accident happened two years after the Co Down woman underwent surgery to have a non-cancerous brain tumour removed.

While Joanne remembers nothing of the accident, she was told she was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment.

For two months after she was left with no short term memory and must now wear glasses because the sight in the right eye has been disturbed.

"I don't remember anything at all," she said.

"They rang 999. It triggered the Air Ambulance coming because apparently if they hear equestrian, they are automatically diverted to it.

"I don't even remember being in hospital.

"I don't remember getting out of hospital or getting home. It was surreal".

Now, nine months on, Joanne's short term memory has slowly returned, however, she has been left unsteady on her feet.

She said she just wants to now "give back" to the Air Ambulance for the help they gave her.

"I am so grateful to be here,"she said.

"The speed in which they operated was so quick. Without them, dear knows how long I would have been lying there".

Joanne has now set up a fundraising campaign called `Horse-Powered Take-Off' in a bid to raise £40,000, which is what it costs to run the Air Ambulance for one week.

"It all started when I was on my sick bed," she said.

"We are trying to engage the whole equestrian community in Northern Ireland".

Joanne has set up a JustGiving page where people can make a donation or she is asking anyone who wants to stage a fundraising event, to do so and then donate the funds. There will also be a competition.

"You never know when you might need them," she said.

"I think that sums it up".

**Donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/horsepoweredtakeoff?

**Anyone wanting or organise a fundraising event is asked to email horsepoweredtakeoff@gmail.com.