Motor racers help coma pal

Bexhill-based APC Sport Rally Team have been without their best friend and mechanic since Simon Stone, 23, lost control of his car and hit a lamp post at 40mph in Coventry.

The popular former Bexhill College and High School student, of Collington Lane West, is now undergoing treatment at the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability (RHN) in Putney, South London, and is said to be responding well.

Desperate to find a way to help their friend, Simon's team-mates this week held a video dog racing night at The Castle and raised an incredible 2,111 for the hospital.

Team driver Andrew Coley said: "We all felt a bit helpless. Simon is an extremely good friend and one of the brightest guys I know."

He was due to take his first steps into a potentially-glittering career in motor racing engineering. Just days after the crash, in June this year, Simon's mother, Sallie Relf was told he had achieved a 2:1 in his engineering degree at Coventry University.

He was treated in Coventry and at the Conquest before being transferred to the RHN, the leading neuro injury clinic in the UK, which was originally founded by Charles Dickens.

There he has made progress and is now in a state of 'minimal awareness.' He is constantly visited by his many friends and family.

Andrew added: "Simon's family have been overwhelmed by the support they received. We were hoping to raise 600-700 at the race night but all his friends came along and threw money around like confetti.

"The Castle was Simon's local and he would have loved it. We also had some great sponsors.

"With the money we will be able to buy the hospital a Standing Machine, which helps with the rehabilitation of coma sufferers by supporting them in an upright position.

"He's just a fantastic guy and we all want him back. I've no doubt he would have gone all the way in his chosen career.

"He loved motor racing and was a real team member. We've grown through the sport together."

Last year the APC team came second in the two-litre class of the Ancro National Rally Championship.

Andrew added: "We could not have done what we did without him. It's going to be a long process but we're hopeful and confident that one day he'll be back with us."

Andrew would like to thank sponsors Chris Campbell Estate Agents, Auto Drive Removals, Secol Engineering, Spirit Cleaning, Pete Johnson Body Repairs, Haldane Property Maintenance and Thomas French Jewellers, as well at The Castle for hosting the event.