An outpouring of support for injured rider Kevin Babington has raised more than $500,000 on a Facebook donation page, while charity horse shows and merchandise sales will continue contributions to funding his medical care and rehab, following his fall last month at the Hampton Classic.
Kevin suffered spinal cord trauma when his mount, Shorapur, crashed through the last element of the triple combination and the rider hit the ground hard. Doctors have fused his vertebrae and stabilized his neck.
On Wednesday night, Kevin’s wife, Dianna, posted on Facebook: “We continue to battle pneumonia, which is affecting Kevin’s ability to get off the ventilator. Doctors seemed optimistic that we will get there. Now that he is less sedated he is easier to communicate with and even cracked a joke with the army of doctors at his bedside. I remain ever thankful that he has no head injury. I have been reading many of the posts to him and I can tell he is very moved by what he is seeing. Thank you for all the kind words and support.”
Last weekend, she stated, “I promise you he is fighting like hell.” We would expect nothing less from Kevin, who is spending more time off the ventilator but still needs some assistance breathing.
Here are more thoughts from Dianna, as she posted earlier this month on Facebook:
“Today I sit in this hospital living the darkest hour of my life. Kevin is enduring a five-hour surgery to stabilize the bones in his neck. He has suffered a complete injury to his cervical spine and today is to prevent him from living in a cervical collar.
“My hope for him is focused on quality of life and that there will be clinical trials to help him move forward. Much of these avenues are not covered by insurance and will be dependent on private funding. I am sharing this because I want people to understand that the fundraising is essential. It can mean the difference in equipment available to him, therapies, vehicles, honestly I don’t even know,” she stated.
“I am navigating in the dark focusing on breathing and literally existing as we navigate hour-by-hour the information we are receiving. What has occurred is probably the worst thing that could have happened to him. If you know him you know he is talented but humble, kind, private, and giving among all things. He was the friend that tried to donate a kidney when one was needed. He is the trainer that didn’t charge the kid he knew couldn’t afford the lesson. He is a vegetarian because he found slaughter impossible to support and is so empathetic to living things he couldn’t eat them.
“He literally helped me give shots of antibiotics to a fish… ( not joking) when our daughter’s fish was upside down. He stops to take turtles off the road. Stops to assist when a horse trailer has a flat. He ran from two rings away to help save a horse’s leg that was caught in a roll-top after a spill,” she continued.
“So many of you have more stories to retell of how he helped you than I even know. Above all things, he is a great father and life partner and as he lies here he is panicking about the three of us instead of himself. I am so thankful for all the support we have received, there are no words. Sadly, I saw some people commenting about “why should we donate to some rich guy with a $5 million dollar horse”.”
Kevin, she noted, is indeed rich–but only in “knowledge, friends, love, support, and devotion from his loved ones. He is not financially rich and has no ability to provide an income. The cold reality is we are desperately trying to raise money for medical (care) and rehabilitation, which I have been told can be staggering. It will be a long, challenging, journey ahead.”
She added, “I want to thank everyone for every prayer, kind word and thought and every dollar that has been donated so far. I remain hopeful that as the body heals his condition will improve. Please keep praying that as time passes, we will receive a miracle. I am getting messages with stories of people walking and moving after worse injuries. Hope is all I have left and I am hanging onto it with everything I have.”
Kevin Babington and daughter Gwyneth, who is also a show jumper, at the Devon Horse Show last spring. (Photo by Nancy Jaffer)
Less than a month ago, Kevin, 51, won the Assante 3-star competition at Bromont, Quebec, on Shorapur. Based in Allentown, N.J., he has been a top international rider for years and represented his native Ireland in the Olympics. For more about him, see this story that ran on this website last month. https://nancyjaffer.com/2019-07-09/
Sissy Wickes posted a medical fundraising page on Facebook to help the family with medical expenses and rehabilitation costs. She will also establish a special needs trust for Kevin.
To donate, https://www.facebook.com/donate/508000833102520/508006313101972/
If Facebook’s donation fees are an issue for you, try https://www.gofundme.com/for-kevin-babington-and-family
Meanwhile, there will be a Jump for Kevin benefit 1-meter class every Saturday of the Princeton Fall Equestrian Festival in Skillman (princetonshowjumping.com), with all entry fees being donated The entry fee is a minimum $50, but riders can donate more if they want. Every competitor also can donate a portion or all of their prize money if they let the show secretary know. Each rider who participates will be given an Irish green arm sash to wear in the competition ring.
All weekend parking proceeds also will be donated to Kevin. Volunteers are needed to help collect parking fees from spectators and donations from exhibitors who wish to do so. Contact princetonshowjumping@gmail.com to volunteer.
Riders participating in the $500,000 grand prix at HITS last weekend also pledged part of their winnings to Kevin’s cause.
Plans are in the works for a benefit horse show Oct. 13 at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County. Well-A-Way Farm in Simsbury, Conn., is having a show to support Kevin Sept. 21.
Meanwhile, those who can are asked to buy their feed from Babington Mills (http://07d.7d2.myftpupload.com/) , which is Kevin’s company.
Ruespari has designed a limited edition belt bearing Kevin’s signature. All proceeds will go to help him and his family. https://www.ruespari.com/rideforkbabs
Those who wish to send something to Kevin can reach him at: NYU Hospital, Kimmel Pavilion, 550 1st Ave., New York, NY 10016
Attn: K. Babington ICU 16th floor
