EACH week five horses, 16 people with disabilities and 40 volunteers come together to facilitate horse riding at Riding for the Disabled in Kendall.
The organisation aims to empower participants and to enhance their lives via equine-assisted activities.
RDA NSW does not receive any government funding, and while grant applications for specific items or activities are at times successful, substantial funds are required to cover basic running costs including farriers, vets and feed.
Monies are also needed to enable the purchase of horses and the extensive specialised training they require prior to being ridden by participants.
These funds are raised via four raffles each year for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and a “Winter Warmer”.
RDA Kendall’s major fundraiser is the annual Bato Golf Day, to be held this year at Kew on 30 November, named in honour of local legend Ian Barbato.
Fundraiser Elizabeth Wallace has been volunteering at RDA Kendall for 20 years.
“I love children and have a soft spot for anyone living with a disability,” she said.
“I didn’t really know anything about horses when I first started but I soon learned.”
Tickets for this year’s Christmas raffle, with five delicious hampers to be won, cost $1.00 and are being sold outside Coles at Laurieton on Saturday, 22 November, with the raffle to be drawn at 3.15pm.
For more information contact rdakendallpublicity@gmail.com.
By Rachael THORPE
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