OTLEY & DISTRICT RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION (JUNE 2007)

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation has donated £2,000 to Otley & District Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) to fund the hire of horses and ponies, along with amenities, at Acrecliffe Equestrian Centre. These facilities will provide the opportunity for the disabled to take part in therapeutic riding, which helps to develop both new skills - boosting confidence and self esteem - as well as aiding physical fitness.

Otley & District Riding for the Disabled is a voluntary organisation which aims to provide riding to improve the general health and well-being of people of all ages with disabilities. It is one of over 600 RDA groups nationally.

Carole Dickason, charities officer at RDA, commented, "The donation from the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation is extremely generous and we are all incredibly grateful. The association makes a big impact on many of our rider's, volunteer's and member's lives but the financial cost each year is high and the group is self-funding. At the beginning of the year we were struggling to meet our costs but I now feel more confident that this will be achieved.

"In a further effort to raise funds, I will be running the London 10k Run on 1 July 2007 along with Mike Farrell of Waitrose of Otley. If you would like to sponsor us for the run we would be very grateful (please contact me on 0771 091 6040) or if you would like to find out more about our group please visit our web site www.otleyrda.ik.org.com."