Lotto winner army helps transform charity base
HORSE THERAPY CENTRE BOSS LOST FOR WORDS
THE founder of a horse therapy charity was stunned after an army of National Lottery winners volunteered to help transform her premises.
The volunteers, who came from across the Midlands and have won more than £20 million between them, gave up their time to help Broughton Astley charity The Way of the Horse.
The not-for-profit organisation uses horses to provide self-help programmes for people, including NHS staff, who have experienced trauma or other difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dina Shale set up the charity after she suffered childhood trauma and benefited from treatment by an equine psychotherapist in the US.
She said she was “lost for words” when 24 winners showed up to help with painting, planting, fencing and the creation of a workspace in one of the charity’s barns.
Terri Picton-Clark, from Lutterworth, won a £1 million Lotto prize with her husband in January.
The 69-year-old has worked for the charity since 2019 and issued the plea to help transform the premises.
Dina said: “I am lost for words. The amount of work undertaken today by this group of National Lottery winners has been amazing.
“I can’t thank them enough.
“In just one day they have transformed a working farm into a colourful, warm and welcoming environment which will have such a positive and therapeutic effect on those who visit us.
“When Terri told me she had arranged for her new National Lottery friends to visit I didn’t realise she had raised an army.
“The effort everyone put into their tasks was amazing and genuinely inspirational.
“It brought tears to my eyes. I don’t have enough words other than simply thank you.”
Terri said: “If you don’t ask, you don’t get, so I came up with the idea of a makeover for our farmyard.
“Now we have a new driveway and entrance fencing and all our buildings have been painted including containers, barns and stables.
“It’s amazing to see these people just come together and give something back.”
The Way of the Horse has also received National Lottery Community Fund grants, totalling more than £265,000, to help it provide courses and help.