I saw a child who couldn’t walk, sit on a horse & laugh & talk

“I saw a child who couldn’t walk sit on a horse, laugh & talk“. It’s widely recognised thatriding & caring for ponies & horses helps disabled people develop emotionally & physically. The wonderful work of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) which has been growing since 1969. Appropriately, as we mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, “Miss Olive Sands MCSP took her horses to the Oxford Hospital to provide riding for the rehabilitation of Soldiers wounded in the trenches during the First World War”.

The Perry Riding Group is currently housed near Shrewsbury, but are looking to move to a new purpose-built riding centre with an indoor arena, which will allow all year round riding. Tomorrow, Saturday 7 June, we’ll be cycling 40km in approx. 6 hours, fundraising funds for the construction of that riding centre, which will be called the Cavalier Centre & located near Much Wenlock.

After our bike ride, we’ll be at Open Farm Sunday on 8 June at Apley Farm Shop, giving away fresh popcorn for anyone who makes a donation. We’re aiming to raise £1000. Later in the Summer we may organise another event. Click here to see the map showing where the Perry Group is currently located & where they’re moving to.

We’re doing all this with K12 Challenge – which stands for “kids with 12 months to complete a sporting challenge“. The heavy rain forecast tomorrow means it’ll be far more of a challenge than I’d expected ! Most of our friends have already completed their own sporting challenge, giving inspiration to their peers. A friend’s 12 yr old daughter even swam the width of the English Channel (but in a swimming pool).

If you feel you’d like to support us supporting the RDA, there are various ways:

1. come along to Open Farm Sunday on 8 June
2. send me an email at enquiries@apleyfarmshop.co.uk
3. call & leave me a message with Apley Estate Office on01746 762 110 (Mon-Fri 9-5pm)
4. Post a cheques payable to Perry RDA, to Lady Hamilton c/o Apley Farm Shop, Norton, Shropshire, TF11 9EF
5. donate online via https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/sybillahamilton1 which takes you directly to our fundraising page. There’s no need to register on this website before donating.

I also wrote about this fundraising on 6 & 9 April.