The other side of horseracing

Horseracing people give a lot in terms of non-racing events and fundraising and an example of that will be evident before the start of today's Aintree Grand National.

Alder Hey Children's Charity will line up as honorary 41st runner in today's Randox Health Grand National
 
Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) first created the honorary berth in 2017 for five-year-old Neuroblastoma campaigner Bradley Lowery, who sadly died in July, 2017. 

JCR has continued to work with closely with the Bradley Lowery Foundation.
 
Last year, the 41st place was taken by three-year-old Edie Molyneux, who suffered from a rare brain tumour called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). 

"Spider-Ede" as she was affectionately known due to her love of Spiderman, sadly passed away in October last year.

The honorary jockey for Alder Hey Children's Charity today is Daniel Bell.

When Daniel was three, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He was taken to hospital in an ambulance and subsequently directed straight to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Following a three-hour operation, he had brain fluid drained. 

Professor Conor Mallucci then operated for approximately nine hours, removing the tumour from his brain. 

Daniel was then monitored in the hospital for a long time.

Daniel is now aged eight and doing brilliantly.