What Charity do I run for?

[xBumblebeex]

My husband and I are very lucky as we have both got a place in the Virgin London Marathon in 2012. Its going to be lots of hard work, but worth it in the end. We really want to raise money for a charity, but are struggling to pick one. I was thinking about something to do with horses or/and horse riders. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Archangel]

Spinal Research!

http://www.spinal-research.org

 

[Red30563]

I ran the London 10k a few years ago for World Horse Welfare. Running with 20,000 others was amazing. It was a boiling hot day in July and I was beaten to the finish by their mascot - a guy on a 7 foot tall foam horse costume!! - but we did raise quite a bit of money for them!

I have always wanted to a do a whole marathon so well done on getting your place.

 

[s4sugar]

Do you both want to support the same charity or separate ones as your donor pool will overlap?
EMW is a genuine horse charity and I would choose a medical research charity for the other.

 

[rubysmum]

good luck with it - i am doing the nottingham half in Sept [ i know my limits ] but will do it for breast cancer as have a friend who is currently v poorly
how about a charity that does work with disadvantaged/disabled children & horses or the RDA

 

[Clofox]

Well done you!good luck, must be very rewarding when complete.
My choice of charity would have to be Beat a charity who work withs people suffering from eating disorders, or a horse charity.
Good luck!
Cf x

 

[caramel]

Injured jockeys fund? The Bob champion cancer trust?

 

[SusannaF]

Emile faurie foundation?

They organise riding for kids who would otherwise never get near a horse. More riders = better awareness about horse welfare and horse issues and more horse sports on the tv at least, that's how I put it together.

Power of good for the kids too - horses are good for children!

http://www.emilefauriefoundation.org.uk/

 

[little_critter]

The local air ambulance - never know when you might need it! Would also be supported by cyclists / motor bikers / hikers etc.

 

[benson21]

When we started the Great Chart happy Hack we were in the same quandry. We decided on the air ambulance because you never know when you might need them.

 

[Sandylou]

The Brooke is a great charity and a double whammy for equines and people who rely on them to survive:- http://www.thebrooke.org/

Well done you and good luck with all the training x

 

[Gorgeous George]

Congrats for getting places in the ballot - they're not easy to come by!

I ran it back in 2006 and I have to say the training nearly killed me (i'm no runner), but I'm glad I did all the training as it meant I was able to 'enjoy' the big day. When I ran up the Mall to the finish and they were playing Heather Small's 'what have you done today to make you feel proud' I was in tears

I didn't run for a horsey charity, but for Guide Dogs for the Blind (they sponsored my husband's first job at Moorfields). They were so supportive and gave me loads of fund raising tips etc. and I raised £3.5k.

Good luck and hope you enjoy the experience

 

[Kat]

Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund?

Headway?

The BHS?

The air ambulance?

Something to do with medical research on spinal injuries or support for people with spinal injuries.

Not horsey but if I was doing it I would pick the mountain rescue. They do such an incredible job putting themselves at such huge risk and they are volunteers who receive no public funding at all. I can't thank them enough for being willing, and capable of turning out in a blizzard to go up a mountain in horrendous conditions to help a complete stranger.

 

[kirstyl]

How about the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys? The charity provides free donkey riding therapy to children with special needs and disabilities and is entirely reliant on charitable donations to run its 6 centres. I work for the Leeds centre and we currently have 180 children benefitting from riding therapy each week. We also take our donkeys into carehomes and hospices to meet the residents - its just wonderful to see their reaction to meeting the donkey! Do look us up www.elisabethsvendsentrust.org.uk or have a look at our EST Leeds Facebook page. Best of luck with your training and the run, 10k was far enough for me so I'm in awe!

 

[Marydoll]

Brooke or whw

 

[xBumblebeex]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. It is really difficult to choose. I think we will choose 2 charities. Air Ambulance and 1 other which I have yet to decide.