Gran to start 200-mile charity horse trek

2:58pm Monday 28th April 2008

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A GRANDMOTHER from Kington St Michael near Chippenham will undertake a 200-mile charity horse trek starting on Thursday.

Seventy-year-old Cilla Labouchere, who was incapacitated by rheumatoid arthritis three years ago, has regained her strength to take part in the sponsored trek with her horse Gypsy in aid of equine welfare charity HorseWorld and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Cilla, who has four grandchildren, said: "Gypsy was rescued by HorseWorld when she was an emaciated yearling still wearing the halter put on her as a foal. Her face was partly paralysed so she had to be tube fed and massaged for a while.

"Once HorseWorld had helped her to get her health back, she was cared for by another family before she came to me in 2003.

"This is going to be an exciting and testing trip for both of us. We are asking people to help us raise money for HorseWorld and Wiltshire Air Ambulance with Gypsy's share going to HorseWorld and my share going to the Air Ambulance."

Cilla will be starting the trek, which she is calling Beating the Bounds of Wiltshire, on Thursday from her home in Kington St Michael.

She will be riding through places including Bradford on Avon, Longleat, Breamore, Lambourn and Tetbury and will finish back in Kington St Michael.

She is planning to ride an average of 22 miles a day and she hopes to complete the trek in nine days with one day's rest half way. She hopes to arrive back at home on Saturday, May 10.

Cilla added: "I have been preparing for this ride for the past five weeks by riding for six to seven miles each morning. I still ache a bit but feel ready to take on the challenge to raise funds for the two charities.

"I am unsure about how much I will raise but I'm getting a very enthusiastic response.

"I'm hoping to get some good photos to develop a slide show afterwards so funds can continue to come in."

HorseWorld is responsible for the care of more than 400 equines, giving them the safe and happy futures they deserve, free from pain or neglect.

Jess Winchester, fundraising and communications manager for HorseWorld, said: "The trek will be a fantastic achievement for Cilla. I wish her all the best for the event."

To sponsor Cilla, please call her on 01249 750222 or email cillalab@aol.com