Wimbledon Village Stables hosts fancy dress ride to support cancer charity
FANCY dress clad riders from Wimbledon Village Stables rode out in style on Sunday October 25 and raised £5400 for the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign.
Riders headed towards the Windmill from the stables, crossed the A3 and rode around Richmond Park, returning via the same route.
The first of two 10 mile hacks taking place this week took participants around three hours to complete.
Stable owner, Carol Andrews, has organised charity rides for 34 years and raised more than £500,000.
“I’m proud to support the charity,” she said. “We get such great support from everyone at the yard.”
Caroline Stevenson, chief instructor, explained they chose the Campaign when her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and received treatment at The Royal Marsden’s Sutton branch.
“We have run the ride for so long, it’s become a part of life,” she said. “It’s a great social point for the yard.”
Prizes such as champagne and saddlery vouchers were awarded for best fancy dress and sponsorship money raised.
Top sponsored rider, Yara Lasytsya, raised £1000.
She said: “It’s a great idea. I had a cancer scare a couple years ago so really identify with the charity.”
Sharad Samy, who jokingly said he learnt to ride because of the high female to male ratio in the sport, dressed up as the Highwayman and raised £850.
He said: “It was beautiful day and a great ride. A true British experience.”
Janet Tobin, Community Fundraising Executive at the Royal Marsden Hospital, said: “They have raised a phenomenal sum of money.”
She explained that money raised makes a real difference to the 40,000 patients seen each year.
The yard hopes to raise £10,000 from the rides. The money will purchase equipment, from blood pressure machines to Apple Macs, for the planned Children’s and Young Persons Cancer Centre.
Ms Tobin said: “We really appreciate the amazing support we receive from organisations within the local community such as the stables. Without the voluntary financial gifts we receive, some of the work we undertake would be impossible to complete.”
The stables are involved in several charity initiatives including annual charity balls, pub quizzes and a popular carol service in December.
If you would like to support them visit www.justgiving.com/Carol-Andrews.
