Friends soon to ride out
Ladies riding 1000km for bush kids prepare for their 32-day trip
AFTER travelling 1000km on horse back, the ladies behind the Horses for Courses Ride for Bush Kids will be graced with some celebrity presence.
Stars of House Rules, Luke and Cody, will host the ride’s arrival party at Freds Pass Reserve at Humpty Doo in Darwin next month.
Close friends Tiani Cook, who is a born and bred Territorian who raised her own family in Australia’s bush, and Toowoomba woman Tash Walker are completing the 32-day journey from Suplejack Downs Station to Darwin to raise money for the Isolated Children and Parents Association. They are committed to improving access to education services for all students who live in rural and remote Australia and hope by riding through the Tanami Desert they will raise awareness for the vast educational inequities faced
by kids living in the bush.
“Around 15% of Australia’s children are located in rural or remote areas, where they face significant challenges through having limited access to the kinds of educational services that many city kids might take for granted,” Tiani said.
“Things like ballet and swimming lessons, music coaching, tutoring, medical and dental services and team sports are simply out of reach for bush kids.
“We hope that by embarking
on a challenge as big as riding horses halfway across the Territory we will be able to spark conversations within the community around education inequalities, and ultimately help close the gap
for some of these families.”
During the one-month ride, which involves four horses, two riders and two support crew, Tiani and Tash will visit some of Australia’s most rural and remote towns, including
Larjamanu, Kalkarinji and Top Springs, spreading their important message on behalf of bush kids in the Territory and beyond. The ride will culminate with a gala arrival dinner and fundraising auction
to be held at Freds Pass Recreational Reserve from 6pm on Tuesday, July 18 , where Luke and Cody from House Rules will headline as MCs and feature as Auction Items on the night.