Story
Thank you for visiting my Fundraising Page. On 28th and 29th August 2021, I will be riding a total of 100 dressage tests in order to raise valuable funds for Cancer Research UK. Using my own horses and others (roughly 12), kindly volunteered by friends, I will be riding 50 tests on both days which will take approximately 4 hours on each day. We have split the riding to make sure we don't do too much on any horse and because I will be feeling rather stiff before too long. Hopefully, there will be a few fancy dress tests to music. We are hoping to raise additional funds through a raffle kindly supported by local horsey people and businesses (see here for updates). Why? Ok so I am no Carl Hester or Charlotte Dujardin, but I do have a reason for doing this: In 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and my world was turned upside down. I was terrified. Throughout 18 months of treatment, one of the things that kept me going was my love of my horses. I rode most of the way through the treatment, unless I wasn't well enough to do so. They provided much needed light, love, laughter and exercise during a very dark time, I owe them a lot for that. Like many other cancer patients, I struggle to cope with the mental burden of a cancer diagnosis. That burden will never go away unless there is a cure, although, thanks to my family and horses, it has eased. There are some rubbish days when things get a bit much but I have learnt to live with them through a mantra of having fun every day. Cancer will affect 1 in 2 of us, that's half of your family and friends. It isn't something that only happens to other people. Cures for the 200 or so diseases are out there somewhere and with more research, hopefully we will find them. Finding cures will mean people survive the disease and it will have the enormous benefit of removing the ongoing struggle of living under the cloud of a cancer diagnosis. Please help us raise funds for the fight to find effective, kinder cancer treatments for everyone. Thank you so much!! Clair XX