Fabulous at Forty
Saturday 5 December 2009
Allen & Page are proud to nominate Riding for the Disabled Association as their chosen charity for 2010.
Founded in 1969, Riding for the Disabled Association today offers opportunities to ride and carriage drive to over 26,500 disabled people at 500 groups across the UK and Ireland. From its humble beginnings, when a handful of pioneers started to realise the therapeutic benefits of riding for people with disabilities, the association has developed into a truly nationwide institution (with affiliated groups across the globe), delivering outstanding levels of instruction and physiotherapy, not to mention fun - and run almost entirely by its army of 18,000 volunteers.
“This 40th Anniversary is a real milestone for us,” explains RDA Chief Executive, Ed Bracher. “It has given us a chance both to reflect on how far the charity has come, and to focus on what needs to be done for our riders and Groups to ensure
our success for the next forty years.”
Book of memories
The anniversary has also offered the opportunity to celebrate what RDA means to those involved on a daily basis – to its riders and volunteers. Struck by the inspiring and often very moving stories shared by riders and their families, the charity has committed hundreds of them to paper to create an anniversary book.
World’s Biggest Riding Lesson
The book of stories is just one of the many ways that RDA is marking its special anniversary. Celebrations kicked off in September with The World’s Biggest Riding Lesson. The event was officially launched by RDA President, HRH The Princess Royal at the Chigwell Riding Trust for Special Needs, which was the first purpose-built riding centre for people with disabilities. Approximately 5,000 people took part in the lesson at over 200 centres across the UK and abroad, raising thousands of pounds and uniting both disabled and non-disabled riders.
“It was one of those special days where the true spirit of RDA shone through,” says Bracher. “Like our National Championships – now the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the world – you have the chance to witness the dedication of our riders and volunteers, as they overcome often very extreme challenges to achieve something truly remarkable."
Looking ahead
With sponsored skydives, marathons, fun runs, parties, a royal reception, an anniversary polo match and much more to keep the celebrations going well into 2010, RDA has got a lot to look forward to. But what about the next forty years:
“There’s still so much to do,” says Jane Holderness- Roddam, RDA Chairman. “More research is needed to give us a better understanding of the therapeutic effects of horses on people with disabilities and this would give us a real focus
for our work moving forward.
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