Last week I wrote about giving and why it makes us feel good and that Blog was inspired by a fun ride organized by our local riding club in memory of Wendy Norris. The ride took place yesterday with the proceeds of the event going to the Air Ambulance, which serves Kent, Surrey and Sussex (https://www.justgiving.com/A-Bonnell1).

So what was the inspiration behind the Wendy Norris Memorial Ride? Wendy Norris loved horses and although she didn’t ride in her adult life she carried on the love of them via her daughter Hannah and New Forest ponies Dolly Daydream and Haywards Invincible (aka Vinnie). Wendy was always helping with the ponies, grooming, watching Hannah’s lessons or supporting her at local shows. On the evening Wendy was taken ill at the stables, the Kent Air Ambulance Team attended and their professional and calm approach meant she was in the best hands.
 Knowing that the Air Ambulance was reliant on charity funding after Wendy died, Alex Bonnell, the Riding Club’s Chairwoman, felt that something to remember her and to help raise funds for them would be a lasting legacy to her and the Wendy Norris Memorial Ride was born.

The committee and other volunteers of the riding club have spent months in the planning stage from finding sponsors, liaising with land owners for permission to ride on their land and then more recently many members giving their time to help ride, map and mark the route that would be taken.

The ride was billed as a “Fun Ride” and I was one of the many volunteers who helped marshall the event yesterday. This meant I was located at one of the checkpoints of the 8 mile route and checked riders off my list as they rode past and seeing people’s faces when they rode through the checkpoint really summed it up, they really were having fun and so were the horses. For the riders it was an opportunity to get out on their horses with friends and ride over some farmland that would not ordinarily be available to ride on.

We were blessed with fantastic weather and everyone looked so happy. They were taking part in something they enjoyed and by doing so were contributing to the worthy cause of the Air Ambulance, the entry fee to do the ride was £30 which will go to the charity. There were many people who kindly sponsored the event, donated raffle prizes, baked cakes, there was even a BBQ and music.

It was a great event not just for riders but also for all club members and even people came along who weren’t club members. Everyone was welcome. It was a day when everyone really did come together and whilst I didn’t know Wendy Norris I am sure she would have been looking down and feeling extremely proud of how successful the day was and of course raising money for the Air Ambulance that helped her when she was taken ill.

Alex Bonnell the Chairwoman summed the day up beautifully “What can I say….our second charity fun ride today…I’m blown away by the fabulous support of Limpsfield Riding club team …too many of you to mention individually who came today to steward, car park , help set up and take down all the gear….”

It just goes to prove that the world we live in isn’t a bad place and I believe there are many good people out there who are very generous and kind.   So this week, look out for the goodness it can be found everywhere.

Wishing all my readers a wonderful happy week filled with love, happiness and not to forget the angels that are looking down on us and guiding us.