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My Reason To Run

It has been almost 6 years since I started a new chapter in my life, and started working at the amazing Youngs pub the Hand in Hand at Wimbledon Common.  Since then Andrew the manager and his wife Elzie our head chef have become very special people in my life,  from 2016 through 2019 they ( and our amazingly supportive customers) have supported me in running 4 of my 6 London Marathons, helping me raise thousands of pounds for charity.   Elzie especially has gone to great lengths in support of all my fundraising efforts,  running and cycling events, even joining me on running events.  So for this years marathon run I'm taking the opportunity to fund raise for Park Lane Stables RDA, a place special in Elzie's heart.  

Due to the corona virus pandemic the London Marathon on October 4th will be like no other, a unique version of the event.  Taking place virtually - runners have from 0000 hours on Sunday 4th of October thorough to 2359 hours the same day to complete the 26.2 mile marathon distance.  The most inclusive London marathon ever - you can walk, jog or run the distance and where ever you like.   I have literally, at the beginning of September only just decided to sign up and take part in this years marathon, inspired by Elzie to fund raise for Park Lane.  I will be completing the first 25.2 miles in my home town of Sutton using my normal running training routes.  I will then travel to a horse field, located in Danes Way, Oxshott (where the Park Lane horses spend some rest time) to complete my last mile running the perimeter of the field, with my now trusty poo-picking wheelbarrow.

A Summer of Poo-Picking in Oxshott

Since 2017 Elzie's rescue horse Jay has been stabled at Park Lane, as one of the livery horses, so since then I have loved listening to Elzie tell me about the stables, their work and all horses.  So with the first easing of lock down in May, Elzie called me and asked if I fancied helping out with some much needed poo picking in a field where the many of the Park Lane horses were spending lock down.  I jumped at the chance to do something worthwhile and spend time around horses, which I have loved since childhood and never had an opportunity to spend time around.  The field in Danes Way, Oxshott, Surrey is rented by the stables (another cost they have to cover)  and is where the horses get to spend some rest time and their holidays, it is absolutely beautiful and feels a million miles from London life.  I have loved the time spent in the field - poo picking is hard work, but helping to maintain the field and be around the horses has become a love of mine, and something I was determined to continue even after furlough and returning to work.  So I join Elzie every week for a day, we work up to 8 hours in the field, and Elzie is there almost everyday to make sure the older horses get an extra special meal they need.  Getting to know some of the horses and their characters is something that will stay with me forever, this has further inspired my passion to raise as much money as I can for Park Lane.

About Park Lane Stables RDA 

Park Lane Stables is a friendly and inclusive Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Centre in Teddington, Southwest London close to the beautiful Bushy Park, offering local children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health issues the opportunity to ride, carriage drive and care for horses. All sessions are facilitated by qualified instructors and volunteers, ensuring participants have all the support they need to achieve amazing things in a safe and nurturing environment. Riding and being near horses is proven to be highly therapeutic. It can make a positive and tangible difference to a person's fitness, core strength, confidence, happiness and general well-being. Only the generous support of many people will help to keep this amazing centre going and to enrich the lives of so many people, who would otherwise never have the life changing opportunities Park Lane offers.

Natalie O’Rourke took over the running of the stables over 12 years ago, she relentlessly works at raising funds for RDA and the stables  by various means including running a number of London marathons and the prestigious Man vs Horse.  She really is an amazing superwoman and inspiration, I don't know how she does everything she does, and runs the stables and a family.  Above all, her love and care for the horses and ponies at Park Lane is so clear to see and along with her amazing team they show such dedication to all those who use the stables.

Since the covid-19 lockdown Natalie came up with a brilliant plan that would help the community and give the horses some exercise. She started taking a little Welsh pony, Annie’s Whizz, named in honour of a young girl that died, around to visit people at their windows. At first it was just around the local streets and then more and more requests came in for these visits and soon Whizz was walking
miles every day, bringing happiness and horse magic to so many.

The Coronavirus has put Park Lane Stables RDA at serious risk
of closure. The stables was forced to temporarily close its doors to the public and cease all activities in line with government guidelines. This meant around 350 disabled children and adults would not receive their much-needed equine therapy. Not to mention all other riders and Pony Club members who could not ride.  The stables rely entirely on participants paying for their riding sessions and donations for their survival. They do not have any reserves. All income goes straight into feeding and looking after the horses and ponies. So, without a sustained level of income they cannot feed the horses or pay their staff to look after them.

Even with the now eased restrictions Park Lane cannot operate to its pre-covid level, having to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines their income is at a very minimum level and it will be difficult for them to sustain operating this way.  With an uncertain few months ahead, no sign of social distancing being eliminated, winter approaching and increased costs during those months for the horses, every donation they receive counts tremendously.   They receive no permanent or regular funding directly from the RDA, and have to be self sufficient, they also do not have the access that large national charities do to legacy donations, money from investments, national marketing & media campaigns and celebrity endorsements.  

I know so many peoples income and finances have been hugely affected by covid-19, but if you can make a donation to my 7th London marathon run to help Park Lane Stables, I would be so grateful and so would all the Park Lane horses & ponies and all those who use this amazing stables x

Thank you for your time.

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