Billy Monger appeal raises double target in first day
An appeal to raise money for double-amputee racing driver Billy Monger has reached more than its initial target in the first 24 hours since it was launched.
The fundraising campaign, set up by Billy's team manager Steven Hunter and BTCC driver Tom Ingram, had started with a target of £260,000 yesterday afternoon, but had reach that level within six hours, and stands at over £540,000 after the first day.
17 year old Monger was today in surgery once again, following Sunday's accident at Donington Park. Earlier he was briefly woken from an induced coma.
"He's aware of his injuries," said Hunter. "He's exceptionally positive about the situation - he's sat there working out how to use a clutch on the steering wheel with his hands.
"That's Billy. There's a long, long road ahead, he's going to go through some hard times, but I'm sure with the character he has he'll come through it."
The campaign has benefitted from publicity from some of the biggest names in motor racing sharing it on social media, including Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Mark Webber.
Many drivers have made substantial donations themselves, with Button and Max Verstappen each giving £15,000. American driver Devlin de Francesco, who raced against Monger last season, donated £26,000 - ten per cent of the initial target.