A FORMER stable girl will compete in her first-ever flat race for charity as she tries to win her bodyweight in champagne and raise £5,000 for charity.

Lauren Dobson, 24, who is originally from Hunmanby but now lives near Kirkbymoorside, is gearing up to compete in the Macmillan Charity Race Day at York Racecourse in June.

Lauren is hoping to raise £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, a cause close to her heart after the death of two of her grandparents from cancer. However, Lauren needs to raise at least £2,500.

“I have ridden all my life and I used to work in racing so to ride around York Racecourse would be a dream come true,” she said.

“A couple of my grandparents died of cancer so I’ve done fundraising for Macmillan before and it’s nice to be able to raise money doing something you enjoy as well.”

Lauren will be one of 12 riders taking part in the race on Saturday, June 14.

She said the first horse and rider over the finish line will win the champagne. But Lauren is more concerned with raising as much money for charity as possible. She is organising various fundraising event, including a charity horse ride through Dalby Forest on Sunday, March 16, in aid of Macmillan.

“I’m going to plan a coffee morning in Kirkbymoorside and try to organise a duck race as well, but I just want to raise as much money as possible,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to it at the moment but the nerves will probably set in nearer the time.”

Lauren will be riding one of David O’Meara’s horses, which she will choose later in the year at his racing yard in Nawton.

To sponsor Lauren visit her JustGiving page at justgiving.com/laurendobson