QUESTION: what do a carer, a cancer survivor and a TV presenter have in common?

Answer: they’re all amateur riders preparing for a charity race in front of 20,000 cheering punters at York Racecourse on June 17. Oh, and they’ll be raising thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process.

The three - housewife and cancer survivor Jo Ford; 41-year-old Stella Riley, who owns a baby swimming business; and Racing UK presenter Alex Steedman - are among 12 amateur riders who have signed up for York’s annual Macmillan Charity Raceday.

None of them have ever raced before. Each will be given expert riding tuition (including a day with former champion jockey Kevin Darley). And each has pledged to raise at least £3,000 for Macmillan.

What a wonderful event this is - a genuine personal challenge for those taking part, a wonderful sporting spectacle, and a way of raising money for a thoroughly deserving cause, all rolled up into one.

The charity raceday - the world’s oldest and biggest event of its kind - has been going for 47 years in York and has raised more than £7 million.

The amateur race is just one of several races on the day - the rest all professional. But what makes it so special is the stories of the riders taking part.

Jo Ford, for example, has had to learn to cope not only with a devastating injury which shattered her back 20 years ago (she now has titanium rods in her spine) but has also beaten cancer twice.

The 45-year-old says she now wants to ‘give something back and... achieve something on my own’.

You’ll certainly be doing that, Jo - as will all the amateur riders in this year’s event. We can’t wait...