The Portuguese Cerebral Palsy Association in Faro (APPC) has renewed its partnership with Pinetrees in Almancil for sessions of hippotherapy and therapeutic riding for their clients.
They are in the process of getting assessments, plus parental and medical authorisations in order, with the programme due to re-start at the end of September or beginning of October.
The therapists, Isabel and Rita, will be using two ponies to supply hippotherapy for up to eight young clients with severe disabilities. They will require two leaders and two side-walkers. The use of the pony as a treatment medium creates a therapy that cannot be replicated at the APPC school. Not only that, it is fun!
Also, for the first time since Covid, they feel they have safe conditions to re-start with four of the older clients who will work with Beverley in a group session. This will require four leaders.
Volunteers should arrive at 10am on Fridays and should be finished by 12 noon if involved with the hippotherapy or 11.30am if helping with the group.
If you would like to help with this project, you need to be physically fit, a good walker, and able to run short distances for the trot (yes, they love the trot). Skills in handling ponies and horses and speaking Portuguese are desirable but not essential. Good hearing is a must, and the ability to teamwork plus the desire to contribute to the community helping others to benefit who are less fortunate.
This project has been financed pre-Covid by various local businesses and by private donations, making it possible for these APPC clients to benefit from this therapy without costs. Due to the Covid restrictions, very little of the funds have been used, which means the APPC is in the happy situation of having sufficient funds to finance the project for the scholastic year.
If you would like to know more, call Beverley Gibbons on 919 363 190 or email: [email protected]
By BEVERLEY GIBBONS
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