Wishaw Press

Saddling up for charity

Team raise thousands of pounds

- Staff reporter

A team from an animal charity have helped raise thousands of pounds worth of cash after completing the West Highland Way.

Heather Stephens and son Calum from Ponies Help Children completed the walk in May, with the final fundraisin­g total reaching a staggering £2500.

The money will go to help the charity, based at Blairmains Farm, Harthill, continue their fine work.

Ponies Help Children has two aspects to it.

It rescues and trains ponies that have experience­d abuse and neglect as well as providing a safe haven for families with disadvanta­ged children and young people to engage with their ponies.

Many children have benefitted from the services provided by PHC.

The charity works with children from HOPE for Autism, Hamilton Accies Community Trust, Deaf blind Scotland Chris’s House to name but a few.

However, due to the demand on the services of PHC there is a need to build a large covered area which will allow them to work with the children and ponies in all weathers, allowing the child to receive the best possible experience.

Heather said: “Yes it [ the walk] was a challenge, but the encouragem­ent we received and the love of the charity that we set up in 2015 kept us going, even through the thundersto­rms!

“We are overwhelme­d by the amount of money raised for PHC from family, friends and clients.

“We are so grateful for all the support, emotional and monetary that they have received and this will help the charity to go forward with motivation and confidence, as we seek out more funders, to help the children reach their full potential from the services offered.”

You can find out more about the charity by logging onto www. ponieshelp­children. co. uk, by emailing informatio­n@ ponieshelp­children. co. uk or by finding Ponies Help Children on Facebook.

 ??  ?? Brushing down This lovely pony is given great treatment
Brushing down This lovely pony is given great treatment
 ??  ?? Pony parade Calum puts a beautiful beast through its paces
Pony parade Calum puts a beautiful beast through its paces

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