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Please send us your fundraising stories and we will publish them on our website. For further information, please contact Kelly Smith on 01753 847 900 or email: kellys@hpower.co.uk
Park Lane Stable in Teddington is one of London's smallest riding schools, to learn more about their fundraising efforts, click here.
Retired RAF Serviceman swaps planes for horses to raise money for Help for Heroes. To read his story, click here.
Local New Forest resident raises money for charity in honour of her
husband. To read her story, click here.
AmTrust Equine supports employee raising sponsorship for Help for Heroes. Click here to read more.
Nick proves you're never too old to get back in the saddle! Click here to read his story.
To watch a video of the launch, courtesy of Racing Post, click here.
Equine world unites to raise £1 Million for “Help for Heroes”
Ascot Racecourse and The HPower Group are today delighted to launch “Horses For Heroes,” which will see 2010 horses ridden from Ascot Racecourse, round Windsor Great Park and back to the racecourse before racing begins on Saturday 10th July 2010.
The initiative sets out to bring together horses and riders from across the equine spectrum and aims to raise at least £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity, whose founder Bryn Parry said:
“Help for Heroes is all about people doing their bit for our wounded heroes. Horses have always supported our servicemen and women so it is wonderful that the equestrian and racing world is jumping into the saddle with such enthusiasm. Remember, it’s the first 2010 riders to sign up who will get the chance to be part of this piece of history and the website to log onto to do just that is www.horses4heroes.co.uk”
Registrations for the ride are now being taken. Each rider is required to pay a Registration Fee of £175 to confirm their space on the ride. The sponsorship money they raise after this will go to Help for Heroes.
“Ascot is delighted to be playing its part in this wonderful initiative,” said Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot Racecourse.
“Our special thanks must go to the Crown Estate for embracing the concept and assisting with the route planning through Windsor Great Park. Equally, this wouldn’t be possible without the flexibility shown by the Royal Ascot Golf Club, whose activities will be affected for a short period. I can’t wait to ride in the event myself – I’ll probably be amongst the first out so that I can get back to the racecourse in time to prepare for opening to the public. It’ll be a tremendous thrill to see so many people from the worlds of racing and equestrian sport, participants in hunts and pony club riders and many many more, filing up the finishing straight at Ascot in aid of this most worthwhile cause.”
Toni Terry, aspiring dressage rider and wife of England and Chelsea Captain John Terry, and Lieutenant Guy Disney, amateur rider for Nicky Henderson, who lost a leg serving in Helmand Province, were at Ascot today to formally launch Horses For Heroes.
Toni, who trains at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre and is currently preparing to perform at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, in a specially choreographed pas de deux with 16 times national champion, Vicki Thompson-Winfield, said:
“I am working hard to achieve the highest levels of dressage and I admire hugely the dedication of the riders that I aspire to emulate, but such dedication is nothing compared to what our brave soldiers demonstrate every day in the face of extreme danger. When I heard about the opportunity to be involved in promoting something that brought the diverse horse world together to do our bit for the armed forces, I jumped at the chance. Vicki and I are both planning to ride at the event next year.”
Guy added:
“I can think of few professions that encapsulate the same values of professionalism and dedication more than being a soldier and race riding, and there is a long association between racing and the armed forces, including military races under rules in which I have been lucky enough to compete. Working with the racing and equestrian community to raise such an ambitious sum for Help For Heroes feels like a very natural partnership.”
Other celebrity support has been forthcoming from Actor Martin Clunes and Presenter Anthea Turner, who are both keen horse riders and are looking forward to taking part in the event. Visit www.horses4heroes.co.uk to view a special video message from Martin himself.
ENDS
21st October 2009
For further press information on Horses for Heroes please contact:
Kelly Smith
HPower Group
01753 847900
kellys@hpower.co.uk
Karen Smith
Ascot Racecourse
01344 878430
karen.smith@ascot.co.uk
Help for Heroes Press Office pr@helpforheroes.org.uk
Listen to our Interview with Toni Terry
Horses 4 Heroes sponsored charity ride for Help for Heroes.
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