PONIES JOIN RACE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
 

Local primary school children arrived at Aintree Racecourse’ Equestrian Centre this week to find out more about ponies – and raise money for Clatterbridge Cancer Research.

 

Aintree International Equestrian Centre’s annual Pony Education Day is now a firm favourite with youngsters who spend a full school day riding, learning about pony care and finding out more about the world of racing from a jockey’s eye view. 

 

This year the event helped support the cancer research charity’s Around the World in 80 Ways summer fundraiser which asks people to raise a minimum of £2 for every mile they pledge to travel without using engine power. 

 

All the children favoured horse power on the day and pupils from Green Park School, Maghull, were particularly pleased to use their rides to help power scientific research. 

 

Spokesperson for the charity, Sarah Klaveness, said:  “We were so pleased the children wanted to get involved.  Pony Education Day is a fantastic initiative, it’s educational and also great fun.  We brought along our big pink fluffy Clatterbridge Chick mascot to help with handing out certificates of achievement at the end of the day and we’re now counting money raised by the children and ponies that walked nine laps of the Equestrian Centre to complete every mile. 

 

“Anyone can raise money for our Around the World in 80 Ways campaign, just go to the website www.clatterbridge.org and find out how hopping, skipping, running, walking, cycling, pony riding or whatever you fancy can help us collectively cover 25,000 miles and raise £50,000 for cancer research!”

 

During the day the children enjoyed riding lessons, a trip around the Weighing Room, where they tried on traditional jockey silks and used the weighing machine and then spent some time with Jo McCain, daughter of legendary Grand National winner Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain.

 

Thirty children from Year 2 to Year 5 took part in the activities, based around the National Curriculum, during a day brought together by Aintree International Equestrian Centre manager Denise Maitland.

 

 Anyone can help raise money for this hugely important research work which will help Clatterbridge Cancer Research find ways to help the world beat cancer.  To find out how you can skip, hop, jump, cycle, walk or – oh there are about 80 ways – and raise some money, go to www.clatterbridge.org to download a participant’s pack and join the fun.

 

To be kept in the loop with our ‘virtual’ chick’s progress as he progresses around the world, fuelled by fundraisers’ efforts,  follow him on www.clatterbridge.org, join the Facebook group www.facebook.com/clatterbridgechick and follow the chick on www.twitter.com/ccr_chick 

 

For further information:

 

Sam or Denise at Paver Smith 0161 214 7999

 

Sarah Klaveness at Clatterbridge Cancer Research 0151 343 4300

 

Denise Maitland at Aintree International Equestrian Centre 0151 522 2949