Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has launched a winter appeal for donations that will help it continue providing equestrian services to the disabled community.
The rising costs of fuel,feed and electricity are hitting charity particularly hard this winter. There are hundreds of RDA Groups across the UK, supporting thousands of disabled adults and children. Many of these groups are reporting financial difficulties that are resulting in cancelled sessions, particularly in evenings when the cost of the lights for indoor arenas has become unaffordable.
Sarah Healing from Penniwells RDA Group is among those concerned about the future.
“Whilst we are a very determined group the outlook over the coming winter for Penniwells RDA is worrying – with the cost of living forever rising, going forward we are worried about how we will survive,” she said.
RDA UK Chair of Trustees, Rachel Medill MBE said that any donation of any size will make a difference.
“It’s such a difficult time for so many of us financially at the moment, but if there is anyone out there who feels that they can make a donation to support RDA at this really difficult time, I want people to know that any gift, small or large will make a real difference,” she said. “We make every penny count”.
A donation could provide help with rising costs over winter such as fuel, electricity and supplies and the increasing cost of caring for horses, or help to provide volunteer training and other education programmes.
Three ways to help RDA this winter:
- Donate via RDA’s Just Giving page
- Raise money through RDA’s “Act’s of Kindness” fundraising challenge
- Donate a gift in kind to a local RDA Group, such as a bag of feed or a winter rug.
Donations will help the charity continue its valued work. As the mother of one regular young participant said: “Henry’s RDA session every week makes him really happy. He beams with joy, he’s more flexible, he’s more focused and he’s just so happy.”
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