I’m raising money for bone cancer research through the Willberry Wonder Pony Charity (www.willberrywonderpony.org). The charity was set up by a talented young event rider Hannah Francis to raise money for bone cancer research and to grant horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses.  Hannah died last year, 15 months after being diagnosed with bone cancer.

The Wobbleberry Challenge was set up to encourage ‘middle aged wimpy riders’ to train and compete at a British Eventing 80 One Day Event by Autumn 2017.  This involves completing a dressage test, a round of show jumps and cross country course.

Well, Jazz and I took up the challenge and have taken things slowly since registering last year.  It’s been a bit of a steep learning curve in places, to say the least.  I prefer to keep all feet firmly on the ground and Jazz finds dressage, ‘boring’! We’ve learned such a lot and our journey so far has taken us to riding club training sessions, camps, lessons and competitions and we’ve completed 2 unaffiliated One Day Events at 70cms.  We’ve also made lots of new friends, equine and human, along the way and had lots of support and encouragement from family and friends.

This journey has been a big challenge and Sunday will be our greatest so far.  On Sunday 27 August Jazz and I will be competing in the 80 ODE at Northallerton Equestrian Centre,
North Yorkshire.  It’s unlikely that we’ll do a BE 80 ODE by the end of this season but it will remain as a personal challenge for next year.  That said, taking up the challenge and taking part is the main thing.  I’ve done this for Hannah and to contribute the
charity she breathed life into to help others.  I’ve also undertaken the challenge as a tribute to our beautiful niece Caitlyn Fischer, another talented young event rider, sadly taken from us too soon.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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