Racing Wraps Arms Around Abbie

Over the past two years, the Queensland racing community has been assisting the family of Abbie Sweeper with fundraisers via the now famous "Riding for Abbie" colours, reports racingqueensland.com.au. in July 2019, Abbie's dreams of working in racing were ended when she fell from her horse and her injuries resulted her being left as a ventilator dependent tetraplegic. The family estimates $200,000 has been raised to support Abbie over the last few years, with about 15 per cent coming from the racing industry. "We do not know the cost of things that we will be bombarded with when we eventually get back home," Abbie's mother Amanda said. "It opens a few doors to make things a little easier." They are currently living in Brisbane to remain near to Abbie's medical care. Abbie, who began riding at age two, represented Queensland at the state championships. One day, former jockey Greg Hall brought his Melbourne Cup (won on Subzero) to her hospital room. "It was a special moment," father Russell Sweeper said. "That was really where it all started at that point of time, when the Melbourne Cup came into the room, that was when the racing industry really started to get behind her. Maybe, we can get to the Melbourne Cup one day, that would be great. It would be great to see her colours in Melbourne on a Saturday meeting one day, that would be amazing." The "Riding for Abbie" colours have been used at many racetracks around Queensland. The family hopes to be able to move back to their Laidley property; Abbie quickly pointed out that her pony wasn't scared of her new wheelchair.