This Is Cheshire

Kirsty mounts charity ride

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 9th Jan 2003.

TEENAGE horse lover Kirsty Hassell will be riding through Congleton next weekend to support a cash-strapped hospice.

Kirsty, aged 13, is staging the sponsored hack in aid of the Francis House Hospice at Manchester.

The Biddulph teenager was touched by the story of Kirsty Howard, who is cared for by the hospice, after watching a TV programme about her.

She wanted to do something to help the hospice, and has already signed up 14 people for the novel fund-raiser.

Kirsty will be riding her horse Mabel, and she and her fellow riders are to set off from the Coach and Horses pub at Timbersbrook at 9am next Saturday, January 18.

The half-day hack will take the group past Congleton Town Hall at 9.30am, through the town centre and onto Astbury, before returning to the Coach and Horses pub in the afternoon.

The event is being organised by Kirsty's mum Lynne Evans, who ran the Coach and Horses with her husband Jason.

"I thought how brave Kirsty Howard was after watching the programme about her care and treatment at the hospice," said Kirsty.

The other riders include Kirsty's mum, who will be leading her miniature Shetland stallion Teddy, and Holly Hodgson, Kirsty's best friend at Eaton Bank School in Congleton.

People will be accompanying the riders collecting for the hospice, and the event is being supported by Siemens, which is providing riding bibs.

Anyone who would like to take part in the sponsored hack or who would like to support it through sponsorship should ring Mrs Evans on 07816-218679. IR/1373/6/1.

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