GoFundMe aiming to raise £200K for rider receiving treatment in Aintree Hospital
A warning this article contains descriptions of injuries which may be distressing.
A fundraising page has been launched by Maria Costello MBE's racing team following a crash during sidecar qualifying last week.
The rider, who this year marked 30 years since she first raced on the Mountain Course, is said to be facing a 'lifelong impact' from her injuries.
Along with passenger Shaun Parker the pair came off at Brandish, last Tuesday (26 May), leading to the session being red flagged.
She was subsequently flown to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool for treatment.
In an update today (1 June) her team says she's 'thankfully stable and is extremely grateful to the marshals, medical staff, doctors and circuit staff who helped her and remains incredibly thankful to the staff, including Doctors and Nurses in Liverpool, where she is now being treated'.
They also confirm she has suffered a broken back and is currently paralysed from the T5/ T6 vertebrae down, for which she will need specialist help with physio care and perhaps surgeries to hopefully regain the use of her legs.
She's also reported to have suffered a broken arm, multiple broken ribs, a grade four large liver laceration, a broken nose, broken eye socket, lacerations between her eyes, and a broken sternum.
A fundraising target of £200,000 has been established in order for the rider to make alterations to her home or possibly move to a new house which is more accessible.
Manx Radio has spoken with the fundraisers behind the page to confirm its authenticity - you can find a link to it HERE.
On the page 'Team Maria' say: "Maria is beyond determined to bounce back and apply every ounce of focus to being back as well as possible.
"Maria's recovery is highly expensive and after a career spent raising money from sponsors and backers for racing we now find ourselves asking for support for a very different but all to real problem.
"Whatever you can give will go some way to helping Maria's recovery.
"We hugely appreciate any support and promise to continue to update you all on progress."
'Turns out we hit a hare'
Meanwhile, Maria's sidecar passenger Shaun Parker has given an update on his own injuries following the crash.
In a video shared to social media, he says they hit a hare coming down from the Creg Ny Baa.
It's led to him suffering a collapsed lung, blurred vision and some broken bones including three ribs and his right foot.
But Parker says he's otherwise okay:
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