So it’s probably about time I introduced you to the charities that I am raising money for on this crazy adventure.
The Horse Rangers Association
The reason that after 30 years I am still riding horses is down to this unique organisation which I joined as a 10 year old. The founding mantra of the organisation was that every child should have the opportunity to learn to look after and ride horses. It’s certainly taught me that. The unique set up of the organisation allows youngsters to develop responsibility, integrity and a caring nature. Youngsters from all walks of life meet on a weekly basis allowing life long friendships to develop. As they get older they are encouraged to mentor and teach younger and newer members, allowing them to develop as individuals. A large part of who I am arises from growing up in this environment.
Since it’s inception in 1954 the organisations activities have evolved and the organisation became a member member of the Riding for The Disabled Association in 1974 offering opportunities to children, young people and adults with disabilities. It also has outreach programmes in the local community offering, amongst other things, days out for young carers to give a break to those youngsters who are shouldered with immense responsibility at a young age.
A truly unique organisation vey close to my heart. Please help me raise money for youngsters who wouldn’t get these unique opportunity elsewhere.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/gemmaractliffe
For more information on the charity visit www.horserangers.com
Save The Children
A family link to this one, my brother in law has worked for them for a number of years spending time on the front line in The Sudan, North Kivu in the DRC, The Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan, the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and Liberia during the Ebola crisis.
Specifically I’m looking to raise money for their East Africa Food Crisis Appeal. Many of you may not know how bad the situation is in East Africa, droughts and water restrictions in South Africa made the news, but a number of years of drought in the East of the continent is having a devastating effect on Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan. In all four nations Save the Children support hospitals, operate mobile health clinics, provide water trucks for schools and clinics enabling them to stay open, provide livelihood support for people who have lost their livestock and provide support to combat outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.
I visited Kenya in 2016, where my other half spent a year working with remote communities that had suffered from 3 years of drought, and saw first hand the effect it has, particularly on the very young, the elderly and those who rely on livestock for survival.
Save the Children literally save lives by providing nutrition to malnourished youngsters, just £10 buys a two week supply of high nutrient peanut paste for an acutely malnourished child.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/gemmaractliffe
For more information on the appeal visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/how-you-can-help/emergencies/east-africa-food-crisis-appeal
Cool Earth
Cool Earth is the official charity of the Mongol Derby. A not for profit organisation that aims to mitigate the effect of climate change by working in partnership with rainforest communities to reduce the destruction of the worlds rainforests. The local rainforest communities rely on the forests for everything, food, water, clothing, medicine, the list goes on. By improving the livelihoods of these communities they are better able to protect the forests from the threat of commercial logging and agriculture, they are the forest’s best possible custodians.
After all what’s the use of helping future generations if we don’t leave them a world worth living in…
https://www.coolearth.org/campaigns/22215/journey-to-the-derby/
For more information on the organisation visit www.coolearth.org