Well, We made it.  It was certainly challenging, but our training paid off and we managed well.  The temperatures were high though.  We were told it would be mid 20's but ended up walking in 35-40 degrees every day! The 12 hour day going over the Red Mountains was a real endurance test, but the exhilaration of achieving was immense! Lu

Each year more than 18,000 dedicated RDA volunteers give a total of more than 3.5 million hours of their time.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

To raise money for my local group, Wyfold RDA, Rob and I are participating in the trek.  I have been a volunteer with Wyfold RDA for 7 years now, first as a helper, and more recently as a Group Instructor.  The RDA caters for people with both physical and mental disabilities.  At Wyfold, we have a wide range of riders from children to adults, and from those who just want to sit and feel the motion of the horse to others who do dressage – one of our group’s riders reached the National Finals this year.  For those who cannot or don’t want to ride, we have two ponies who can pull a carriage and take them out in the surrounding countryside.

Riding for the Disabled helps adults and children with both physical and mental disabilities.  The aims of the RDA are to help disabled people:

Reach therapeutic goals: improve muscle tone and posture, develop fine and gross motor movement 

Achieve their personal ambitions: sit on a horse for the first time, learn new skills, win a Paralympic medal 

Combat social isolation: build relationships, enjoy events and competition, develop self-confidence 

Develop life skills: improve communication, take responsibility, be a team player 

Experience the outdoors: ride in the countryside, access rural Britain 

Connect with animals: bringing positivity and optimism, adding a new element to life.

The children and adults who attend get so much from their activities.  It is just lovely to hear them singing as we walk through the woods, or to see the smiles on their faces when they have made some special achievement.

But running a group like this is not cheap, and all our funding comes from donations and fundraising activities.  To give an idea of the costs involved:

£10 -1 weeks phone bill

£20 - buys one grooming kit

£30 - foot trim for one horse without shoes

£40 - 1 weeks winter hay

£50 - electricity for 1 month

£60 - trimming and shoeing one horse 

£100 - vaccinates two horses

£200 - buys a saddle

 

So, PLEASE support us, dig deep, and give as much as you can.  Our aim is to raise £5000, all of which goes directly to Wyfold RDA.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please donate now!