Claudia (my daughter for anyone who doesn't know and or can't see a family likeness!) and I have tried to decide how best to raise some funds for the Region with a guarantee that all funds raised will be going directly to the MidWest RDA Groups. 

We will be swimming the distance of the English Channel in our home swimming pool.  We signed up to the English Channel Virtual Challenge which is hosted by "My Virtual Mission" and relies on us submitting our mileage as we do it which results in us being plotted on a virtual map across the Channel via on line apps etc (all quite technical but it seems to be working so far).

For those of you that are interested in statistics, the English Channel Challenge will require us to swim 3,465 lengths of our pool.  Currently we are swimming 165 lengths a session which is 1 mile. We are allowed 12 weeks to complete the challenge but I hope to finish sooner than that to complete the 21 miles distance.

The Covid-19 pandemic has produced some interesting examples of dedication by volunteers and RDA groups finding varying ways of helping each other and ourselves during these, and I quote "unprecedented times".  What would any normal RDA Regional Chairman decide to do to help swell the coffers of her Region? Obviously probably not take on swimming the distance of the English Channel........  The nitty gritty therefore is that this is a fund raiser and that's where you come in.......... Claudia and I will do the hard work, if you in return could see yourself donating a £ or ££'s to RDA Mid West Region so that we can use the money to support some of our worst hit groups following the Covid-19 shutdown.

Some of these groups which rely on income from riding and carriage driving sessions, are facing financial hardship and the very real possibility of permanent closure without a vital injection of funds.  Activity through the MidWest's 27 Groups may have stopped, but care for its ponies, including feed, hay and vets' bills must continue.  The closure in the MidWest has affected around 1,880 disabled adults and children, many of whom rely on their weekly RDA sessions for physical therapy, health benefits and wellbeing.  RDA groups in the MidWest are also a vital community space for volunteers and participants to socialise, get active and have fun.

RDA is entirely reliant on voluntary help, donations and legacies to deliver its services.

£10.00 the cost of a cinema ticket, will help support the training of volunteers to coach disabled people to ride.

£25.00 the bill for a meal out, will contribute to the delivery of regional sporting events, supporting our disabled riders to actively compete and qualify for the National Championships.

£50.00 the cost of a concert ticket, will help support groups to maintain the physical, wellbeing of our horses and pay for essential vets bills.