A FUNDRAISER has been set up to raise money for the Cornwall Air Ambulance, following the tragic death of a Launceston lady.
Sixty-four-year-old Linda Sandercock was ‘doing one of her favourite activities’ on the morning of Friday, December 14, when she rode out on her horse with friend Maria in the Lewdown area. As they reached Hayne Cross, Linda tragically fell from her horse and sustained an unsurvivable head injury.
Police were called just after 11.30am that day to the incident after reports of a female rider having been thrown from her horse at Hayne Cross.
Initially treated at the scene by ambulance personnel, she was then flown to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, by air ambulance for further treatment.
Linda’s family were devastatingly told that she was confirmed brain stem dead. She passed away the following day with her husband, children and grandchildren by her side.
Linda was a great lover of horses, having been senior horse steward for Launceston Agricultural Show for two years. Additionally, she was heavily involved in the South West and National Pony Club Tetrathlon and Point to Point.
Since her death, Linda’s daughter Emma Spiers, has called on those who knew and loved Linda, and members of the public, to donate whatever they can to a new fundraiser in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance. Emma has already surpassed her hope to raise £2,500 having reached more than £2,700, with funds set to roll in even more over the course of the fundraiser.
Emma told the Post: “Mum’s passion for horses is long-founded. Every weekend when we were growing up she spent doing something horsey and mum worked tirelessly to keep horses for us.”
Linda’s lifelong passion has seen her become district commissioner for Lamerton Pony Club, a dressage judge, a riding instructor and a Point to Point steward, involved with South West Equine Protection.
“You name it, she’s probably done it,” Emma added.
And the love of horses doesn’t stop with Linda, as it has transferred onto her son, Adam, who has competed nationally and internationally at Tetrathlon, a Pony Club discipline similar to Modern Pentathlon comprising a shoot, run, swim and cross country course, usually held over two days.
Proud mum Linda watched Adam win the Pony Club National Intermediate Tetrathlon in 2007, and once he passed competitive age she became involved in the organising both locally, regionally and nationally. She was area 15 and 16 (South West) co-ordinator, elected to the national committee as the representative for the area co-ordinators, and took on the ever-thankless job of stable manager at the national competition.
Aside from organisation and planning for equine events, Linda rekindled her love of riding when Adam’s competition horse needed exercising and there was no-one else available to do it.
When the horses and her children had left for new homes, she spent time exercising her friends’ horses, which she loved dearly.
Emma said: “There’s nothing quite like the freedom of a horse and mum really enjoyed getting back to the actual riding rather than running around after us!”
But Linda had other talents too — this year, she took on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis with her friend Heather. She had fond childhood memories of climbing Scaffel Pike, Snowdon and Brown Willy with her father, and had climbed Snowdon with her own family in April 2004, only to learn at the top that her mother had passed away.
This was a particularly poignant moment for Linda and her family, so this year she decided she was to complete the Four Peaks, getting to the top and raising money for Marie Curie in doing so.
Linda has no doubt touched the lives of many. Emma has said her mother ‘was so loved’ by everyone. Her fundraiser in memory of Linda will be raising vital funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance service.
Emma said of the fundraiser: “We chose Cornwall Air Ambulance because mum is proud to be Cornish and so are we! She begged the ambulance that rushed her to Freedom Fields when she went into very early labour with me to stop ‘this side of the bridge’, but they wouldn’t — much to her chagrin.
“Although it was Devon Air Ambulance that picked her up (after the accident), we felt her Cornish roots needed celebrating too, along with Cornwall’s current efforts to raise money for a new helicopter.”
The collection at Linda’s funeral will raise funds for the Devon Air Ambulance, in recognition of their assistance.
Emma’s fundraiser has already exceeded their original target, going on to achieving in the region of £3,000 for the cause.
“Initially we set a target of £1,000,” Emma continued. “But then we quickly upped it to £2,500. We’re blown away by the generosity of the community and the fund sits well over anything we imagined at £2,700. It’s quite possibly the only time I don’t mind endless email notifications!
“In reality, every penny makes a difference to this vital service so to have raised so much with so many beautiful messages is overwhelming.”
She added: “Mum had a large family and a large heart. Nothing for anyone was too much trouble and she was always busy, rushing around here, there and everywhere. She literally did everything and was so loved.”
Linda leaves behind her husband of 35 years, Alan, and two children, Emma, an army nurse, and Adam, a senior pricing analyst. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Zoëy and Jacob.