Moray Riding for the Disabled given a leg-up by Gordon & MacPhail
Staff at a family-owned business have handed over nearly £5000 to the Moray Riding for the Disabled.
Each year Gordon & MacPhail selects a charity partner from those nominated by its workforce, then arranges fundraising initiatives over the course of the next 12 months. Based at the Cranloch Riding Centre, not far from Lhanbryde, Moray RDA provides riding lessons and pony care classes for more than 50 young people and adults with a wide variety of different individual needs.
The classes are run by their own specially trained coaches, assisted by an army of volunteers.
Both parents and carers talk of the physical benefits provided by horse riding, which is described as being like a “3D workout for the stomach muscles”, and is especially helpful for someone who’s in a wheelchair.
Added to that, riding also helps improve balance and coordination. And then there’s the matter of the emotional bond that soon develops between the riders and their horses.
Moray RDA, which has been going since 1971, needs the best part of £30,000 each year to keep running the services it provides.
Tracy Hales, its fundraising coordinator, said: “Every penny has to be raised by ourselves. To be supported by a local business in this way is, therefore, a huge boost.
“This is an amazing sum and it will all be used directly to fund riding lessons and activities for our riders.
“Our thanks go to everyone at Gordon & MacPhail. Their efforts and generosity are hugely appreciated by all involved in Moray Riding for the Disabled.”
As part of the company’s fundraising efforts some staff members cycled a 50-mile round trip from Benromach Distillery in Forres to its newest distillery, The Cairn, located near Grantown.
Other activities throughout the year included golf and fishing days, various raffles and The Beast Race, a tough 10km obstacle course near Banchory.
Jodie Clayton, who heads up the company’s fundraising committee, said: “At Gordon & MacPhail we are committed to fundraising for a different charity annually with the aim of making a difference to local organisations and helping to support members of our community.
“Moray RDA provides an invaluable service to the young people and adults using the service. We’re delighted to have raised a total of £4840 and honoured to play a small part in helping their services continue.”
