Late Aintree Chairman Rose Paterson, who died last June, was on Saturday inducted as an Aintree Legend. She joins distinguished figures from the jumps racing world including Ginger McCain, Sir Peter O'Sullevan and Jenny Pitman.
Paterson's husband Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, announced the launch of the Rose Paterson Trust, which will raise funds for suicide prevention causes.
“For us it's just a very sad day,” he said. “Normally we'd have come in early and we'd have walked the course and she'd be picking out all the details, and she's not here. But what we've done–and I pay massive tribute to my three children–we've set up the Rose Paterson Trust. Our very simple aim is to raise money for suicide prevention and to publicise that in the next 90 minutes someone will take their life–which is nearly 15 jumbo jets per year. We feel very strongly that this should be talked about more and if we can possibly prevent one single family going through the extreme anguish that we went through.
“The reaction of racing has been quite extraordinary and I'd like to thank everyone who has pledged so far. We will put the money forward to projects and charities which we hope will prevent suicide and might just save that one family.
“Could I thank you all very much for the immensely kind reaction to what's happened. We look forward to coming back for future years and we'll be very proud to see Rose sitting proudly on the wall as an Aintree Legend.”
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