by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Fox Valley Camo is gone, but his positive impact on the lives of children continues.

Photo courtesy of the Giberson family

Madeline and Ethan Giberson in front of the family operated concessions stand at the Spring Preview Day.

Fundraising efforts in memory of Fox Valley Camo on Saturday (June 7) at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield raised nearly $1,000 for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

Additional donations from the harness racing community pushed the total to $1,653.75 as of Monday.

Fox Valley Camo, a 4-year-old trotter trained by Nick Giberson and owned by Giberson’s wife Amy and young children Madeline and Ethan, was euthanized in April because of injuries. He loved children, which is why the family wanted to raise money for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

The Giberson family on Saturday operated a concessions stand at the Spring Preview Day at the fairgrounds, with all donations earmarked for the HHYF.

“It was a huge success,” Amy Giberson said. “We are so blown away with all of the support and donations we have gotten from everyone. We can’t thank people enough for what they’ve done to help raise money for the HHYF and remember Camo.

“The reason Nick and I wanted to do this was to show the kids that even though we are terribly sad about what happened to Camo, we could still do something positive to honor his memory, and at the same time give back to the sport that has been so good to us.”

For more about Fox Valley Camo, click here.