VRDA 20TH ANNUAL RIDEATHON

By Christine Leach

Twenty-eight riders set off on the Galloping Goose Trail in brilliant sunshine for the annual Victoria Riding for the Disabled Association (VRDA) Rideathon on October 4, 2009. This year ten VRDA riders and horses participated.

Fourteen-year-old Kim Scott and Warden King collected the magnificent sum of $3350, winning both the Russ Knight Memorial Trophy and the Nicole Bell Trophy. Sarah Johnson on Tigger, who raised $505, won the new Erik the Pony Trophy for Best Turned Out Horse & Rider presented by Gary Kangas on Erik, who has retired from the Rideathon after participating for 18 years. VRDA won the Tidman Trophy raising $7000. All proceeds directly benefit the VRDA’s therapeutic riding program.

John Walls and his radio volunteers have checked numbers and kept everyone in touch for almost 20 years. The RCMP Community Policing volunteers Judy Price and Trevor Whitten with their flashing cruisers really slowed down traffic. First aid was provided by Patty Anne Lea, Medical First Responder, who had to deal with just one bee sting!

A thousand thanks to our generous longtime prize donors, the T-shirt sponsors, hard working VRDA volunteers, Sue Colgate, and all the riders and horses – without you we could not have raised the grand total of $8300.

Photo: Sybil Kangas