A GROUP of horse riders from the Algarve and UK will once again be attempting to follow the famous Via Algarviana route from Alcoutim close to the Spanish border to Cape St Vincent in Sagres to raise money for charity.
Lead by organisers Rod Frew, Jinny Harman and Nathalie Baart, the ride will be split into six days, taking place from May 13 to 19. The off-road route covers 240km, where riders will have to tackle all types of terrain, averaging seven hours of riding per day. Although gruelling, the venture, set in the backdrop of the Algarve’s most beautiful scenery, should highlight two different, yet equally worthwhile causes.
The charities benefiting from the activities are Riding for the Disabled and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). The former helps people, especially children, with a variety of physical and mental disabilities reap the positive benefits from being encouraged to ride. Through emotional and physical interaction with the horses, the rider soon grows in confidence and increases their co-ordination and communication skills.
Support
The PSP Association is a European charity that supports sufferers from the rare degenerative disease, which involves the death of selected neurons in the brain. It is an area of health care with little funding and therefore is under research and, as of yet, no cure has been discovered.
Organisers are also offering businesses the opportunity to sponsor a day of the ride. As a daily sponsor you will be the face and name behind one of the six days with the opportunity to promote your company on a variety of equipment, including support vehicles, t-shirts worn by riders and support team, on the saddles of the horses, as well as online exposure and inclusion in all the publicity before, during and after the event. There are only six positions available for each day so get in touch with the organisers if you wish to help out this worthy and unique venture.
In addition to this, each rider will need to raise 1,000 euros individually, all of which will go directly to the two charities.
If you can’t help out with funds, but would like to contribute towards the event there are other ways to help, such as contributing horse feed, transport, accommodation or medical services.
The ride is not for the faint hearted rider or horse and training has already begun to make sure the team is in top shape for the event. The Resident will be covering the build up to this year’s event and closely following the rider’s progress, so watch out for more information.
To find out more about the ride or to become a sponsor contact [email protected] or call Nathalie on 914 248 714.
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