Racing car driver Oliver Webb becomes Redevelopment Appeal Ambassador

Posted by Vicky Brady on 05 December 2014

The RNOH Charity has secured a further boost to its £15million Appeal, by announcing racing car driver and European Le Mans champion Oliver Webb as one of its official Appeal Ambassadors.

The 23 year old, who is set to race against Formula 1 stars Mark Webber and Jenson Button next year, has huge admiration for the staff and patients at the RNOH and has pledged to help raise vital funds towards its £15 million Redevelopment Appeal target.

Having witnessed first-hand the darker side of the sport, where fellow drivers have crashed out and sustained serious injuries, Oliver knows how vital the work carried out by spinal specialists at the Stanmore hospital is;  “When I was approached by the Charity I was thrilled. I have been fortunate enough to come away from the track unharmed and I have friends who have not been quite so lucky…Their outlook on life however is still amazing and a lot of that is down to their rehabilitation, which I know is a big part of the RNOH’s spinal recovery programmes.”

Oliver has come a long way since his go karting days when he was just 11 years old and has his sights on becoming the World Endurance Champion in LMP2 next year but another priority for 2015 is to fundraise for the Appeal and treat patients to a day at the track. Earlier this year he donated an adrenaline junkies dream prize; a driving experience in the world’s only legal single seater supercar for our gala fundraising evening at The Savoy London, which was in attendance by the Charity’s Appeal Patron HRH Princess Eugenie and fellow Charity Ambassador former Harry Potter stuntman, David Holmes. The auction lot raised £5,000 for the Charity.

Rosie Stolarski, Director of Fundraising and Development at the RNOH Charity, praised Oliver’s determination to help the cause:  “Redeveloping our facilities is vital if we are to continue to improve patient care and outcomes. We’re incredibly grateful for Oliver’s support, we’re thrilled to have him represent our Appeal and look forward to working with him in 2015.”

Support Oliver's Skydive challenge:
Oliver will be undertaking a Skydive at the end of December to raise money for the Redevelopment Appeal. To find out more or to sponsor him, visit his Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/Oliver-Webb2