Charity News

Date

June 18 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

Rachel and Amy's VIP treatment

Written By Team Willberry . - June 18 2019

Rachel mother got in touch with Willberry to see if he could wave his wand in Rachel's direction. Rachel's sister Amy has breast cancer which has sadly spread. Sadly she is now facing a terminal diagnosis. 

With the Sunday of Nunney Horse Trials being Rachel’s 13th Birthday, Willberry and her Mum were keen to create a magical day for the two of them.  The wish was for Rachel and Amy to have a VIP tour of the XC by car. Rachel even had a few of her closest friends come and join the celebrations.  

Willberry woke at the crack of dawn, excited to meet Amy, Rachel and their friends and family. He had to fight his sweet tooth as he sat in the car with a super special birthday cake for Rachel and like every good party, Willberry had bought alongs some goody bags. Granting wishes, birthdays and eventing? All in one day? Blimey - Willberry couldn't wait to get going. 

 

 

The fab team at Nunney International were amazing in helping Willberry fulfil this wish. Teressa took Amy and Nanette on a full-on XC expedition!  Visiting the XC control to see the action, waiting at certain points of the course to see some of the big names like Andrew Nicholson, jumping the tricky combinations. 

 

 

The family had planned a picnic but in true British style the weather was quite unsettled. Even a Wonder Pony cant battle with mother nature.... He can however rustle up a table in the sponsors marque!  Amy and Rachel had some special visitors during their lunch, Kitty King, who had just won the 3*, Bridget Parker popped along with her Gold Medal, and David Doel! In a funny turn of events it turned out Amy used to babysit for him and the family were keen to say hello!!  Willberry's special birthday cake did a good job of refuelling everyones tanks. 

 

 

Mrs Yeoman, Bridget Parker and Teressa where so helpful.  Tanzy Lee took some great photos and Eileen Walwin and Caroline Hoddinott made such a fantastic job of the cake. Willberry is so thankful to the support he receives to help keep #makingmemories. 

Amy said: “It’s been a lovely day and so nice as you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to experience something like this. Meeting the riders was fantastic. I love going to support my sister when she’s riding and it’s been great to come here today and have such a special time.” 

 

 

Date

June 07 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

100 rides in 100 days!

Written By Team Willberry . - June 07 2019

Willberry and his team have been following the incredible Jess as she undertakes 100 spin sessions in 100 days!! Ouch, our legs are aching at the thought.. 
,
What inspired Jess to set about this awesome challenge? Willberry caught up with her to find out... 
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"Having grown up in Wiltshire and been a part of the Pony Club - and also with my best friend Zoe knowing Hannah and her family personally - I ended up following Hannah and Willberry's journey from the beginning. Hannah inspired me in so many ways (as I'm sure she does for many, many people), and I felt driven by her positivity, courage and how she faced an absolutely devastating situation and created such an amazing legacy from it. 
I have wanted to help raise awareness and fundraise for Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony ever since the day the official charity status of the organisation was announced, but I was never quite sure how I would go about it. Then in 2018, I joined a spin studio in London (where I now live) and the idea was presented to me. 
100 rides in 100 days. 
1st April 2019: I decided to take the plunge and ride 100 spin classes in 100 days for Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony at my studio Digme Fitness - and that's exactly what I've been doing since then. 
To raise as much awareness as possible, I have DigmeBerry on my bike with me for every ride of this 100. So far, Digmeberry seems to be coping with the early starts and excessive leg spinning much better than me - I can't think why! Regardless, together we're #kickingcancersbutt - one ride at a time! 
The journey so far
The first 50 days have been challenging (in a good way...I think!) like I knew they would. I'll have days of feeling like I have legs made of jelly and other days where I feel on good form - there seems to be no pattern to it, but I’m just trying to listen to my body and hope it sees me through to the 100. 
What has been really eye-opening about this challenge is how much of a mental challenge it is as well as physical. Some days when my alarm goes off at 5:30am, it takes literally everything within me to pull myself out of bed and drag my tired body to the studio. Likewise some days I sit on the bike and my legs will almost be screaming at me 'not again!!', and I have to fight past the protest and get it done. It can be tough! 
I have had some funny looks in the studio too popping Digmeberry on my bike every day, but he's been a brilliant conversation starter and raises awareness like I hoped he would. 
The next 40 rides...
2 months since our first ride, and we're now 60 rides into the challenge with just over a month to go! Every day I get myself and Digmeberry down to the studio to bank our ride for the day; knowing we are raising money and awareness for such a brilliant cause is what is really keeping me going. 
Our 100th ride will be on Sunday 7th July, and my friends and family are going to join me at the studio to help me through the last one. It still feels like such a long way off right now, but I keep reminding myself that I'm over halfway through and raising money for an amazing cause - I must not stop!! 
Help Digmeberry & I reach our target
I've seen many of my family members and friends throughout my life come face-to-face with cancer - and some are currently facing it as I type this. This challenge is for them. 
I hope to raise £1000 for Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony, so please, please donate if you can - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jessicas100challenge - and join myself and Digmeberry in #kickingcancersbutt. Every donation gives me such a boost, and really helps my sore legs through every ride.
You can also follow our journey on my Instagram page: @jessica_catherine91 - I'm trying to document as much as possible (sweat and all) - or, if you're London based and fancy joining Digmeberry and I for a ride, please do drop me a message on Instagram. Berry pony essential of course!"

Date

May 08 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

March's Fundraising!

Written By Team Willberry . - May 08 2019

 A generous donor kindly donated £100 through CAF charities foundation. Debbie Haddow from Rother Valley Riding Club held a raffle at their AGM and raised a brilliant £390.
Willberry Wishes was granted to Wendy her daughter Julie accompanied her, the wish was to see the wonderful Frankel.  Juddmonte did them proud and paraded the stallions for them, they then got to meet Frankel and give him some carrots.  After kindly helping us fulfil another wish Juddmonte sent a super kind donation of £250 to the charity, we are so grateful thank you.
Harbro Country Stores from up North sold calendars in aid of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony.  Susan Larson kindly met the team behind all of the hard work and was given a super-sized cheque, thank you to all involved.  Harbro had a Willberry Wonder Pony in each store raising £1500!
Justine Sole kindly donated £80 from the proceeds of her incredible photography. The lovely supporters using the PayPal giving fund have managed to raise a brilliant £378.75! 
Naomi O’Neill from Equine Touch has a very clever idea of holding a Willberry Wednesday, £5 is donated to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony for every booking on a Wednesday. So far an awesome £65 has come Willberry's way!
Kim George had the brilliant idea of knitting Christmas hats for Willberry’s relatives, they need to keep their heads warm in the winter and also helps their friend Willberry by raising £115!
Vikki James and Beachberry gave a talk on healthy eating to the Trefoil Guild and they kindly gave her a cheque which she asked to be given to the charity, thank you so much.  Vikki also has a collection pot at her Beach Hut, when Vikki and Beachberry have friends over for tea they donate, altogether Vikki has raised a marvellous £170. Thanks so much for your continued support Vikki!
As you probably have heard there have been Willberry pandas on the loose.  Longleat kindly offered the charity the pandas, Nicki & Hannah Bakewell kindly offered to find them forever homes, but first we had the task of moving them from Longleat to Romsey.  After getting together a group of volunteers the move went ahead.  Shaun Burton Transport from Frome gave his time and used one of his artic units, Willmotts DJB Transport from Waterlip lent us a curtain sided trailer for the move, Damien Kelly lent us his small lorry, Tony Andrews lent us his landrover and trailer and time. The people involved in the BIG move were, John Miles , June Clothier, Rachel Francis, James Francis, Tony Andrews, Jayne Andrews, Shaun Burton, Nicola Burton, Robert Allen, Rachel Evans, Lexi Cooper, Ellie Burton, Lewis Burton.  Nikki & Hannah have done an amazing job raising £2380 and now only have two left……….do you need a panda in your life!
Look out for those loose pandas they maybe at a show that you go to!

The guns at Knoll shoot have been keeping their members in check by introducing fines for anything as small as not having their tie on !  This year a staggering amount of £4018.85 has been raised, thank you to everyone who has given, helping Willberry to make a difference to so many people. 
In 2018 we had another fantastic turn out for the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity race at Epsom.  We are very grateful to the jockeys who took part and the organisers £24500 before gift aid.
Through Just Giving this month the charity was given a fantastic amount of £3324.99 we are so grateful to you all for everything you do. The amazing fundraisers using Virgin Money Giving have managed to raise £22.52.
Faithful supporter Lindsay Lane ran the Grizzly at Seaton DEvon and fund raised an outstanding £400.
Clare Pool bravely climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, there are some lovely pictures of the start, middle and the end.  This was a fantastic thing to cross of the bucket list and even more cool knowing £4625 has headed to keep #kickingcancersbutt.
#kickingcancersbutt
#makingmemories

Date

May 08 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

Hannah's trip to Cheltenham

Written By Team Willberry . - May 08 2019

Hannah has battled with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for since her diagnosis in April 2018 and Willberry thought that she really deserved a treat for herself. Hannah has always wanted to go to the Cheltenham Festival on Champions Day so Willberry and his team of fairies got to work.


Just before Hannah’s wish was received, as if by magic, Willberry was contacted by all round good guy, business man and amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who rides regularly at Cheltenham. Sam had heard of the charity and was kindly offering to help make any Cheltenham racecourse wishes extra special if he could.

With Sams help, Hannah was lucky enough to go on to the course at Cheltenham and get up close and personal with some of the epic jumps that the horses have to scale. Despite a slightly damp start to the day Hannah had a wonderful time.

Date

April 13 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

Becki's Wobbleberry Challenge

Written By Team Willberry . - April 13 2019

Willberry spoke to Becki at the beginnning of the year about the Wobbleberry Challenge she completed last year. He was blown away by her outstanding story and is so glad she's managed to keep on kicking.
"Last year I was lucky enough to complete my challenge at the Hannah Francis one day event on my very own wonder pony Ardent Buck

I only brought him in May and we spent the first couple of months getting to know each other....this wasn't all plain sailing as I have to say I was a total novice and 100% massive wimp.

Our first attempt at showjumping was at a clinic where I got off about 10 minutes in tears as I had 0 control and couldn't even make it from fence one to two.

Being used to my nappy mare it took time to get used to a very fast thoroughbred who loved to jump (sometimes loving it too much), heading towards fences at 100 miles an hour was terrifying but it was nice to actually make it over them together instead of taking flying lessons solo (well most if the time anyway)

We headed to our first unaffiliated event in June where I was so unprepared, stupidly I walked the xc on the day and then spent 20 minutes sat in the back of my car with my head between my knees trying not to pass out, however buck truly showed me what he was made of that day and we managed to come a very surprising 5th

I had always wanted to complete at the Hannah Francis one day event but we were not sure if this was realistic having only brought him a couple of months prior but after finishing at Solihull in one piece and still on the horse, caution was thrown to the wind and I booked on.

Doing this was massive to me as not only do I have bipolar disorder but I also have aspergers, these combined make it so hard to do anything out of routine or travel far from home but I can honestly say this challenge has changed my life. my drive to complete and meet the wonderful people I've met online made me determined we would travel the 3 hour to the event and stay over night

I can honestly say this was the best decision I ever made, it was the friendliest, most supportive event I've ever been to and I made some amazing friends for life that day! Everyone was in the same boat and there was always someone in each warm up who looked just as green and terrified as I was.

Despite the crippling heat we managaed our best dressage score to date with 28.3% followed by a cracking clear showjumping and then flew round the cross country like we had been a partnership forever, with my amazing wobbleberry support crew screaming encouragement at every turn.

I finished that day second in my section and was the highest placed wobbleberry as well.

What can I say this day lit a fire inside me and I have never ever looked back.

I've gone from a very depressed, lonely person with very unhealthy coping mechanisms to a bubbly, driven, crazy EVENTER.....yes I can honestly call myself an eventer now!

I went on last year to do my first BE80, and then moved up to affiliated 90s for the rest of the season! I may have thrown up 4 times before the cross country at frickley, oh yes and projectile vomited across the car park at eland lodge but WE DID IT!

Buck and I now have some very big dreams and we have been working our butts off through the winter so far honing our dressage and showjumping skills ready for our first full affiliated season this year with the aim to move up to 100 😱😱

I went into this challenge just to do my 80 but I've found that I absolutely adore eventing, the sport, the people everything about it is just amazing.

No one that knew me before I took on the wobbleberry challenge can believe the change in my, my mental health is the best it's ever been, I have the most AMAZING friends (mostly all have been met through the challenge at some point) and I have my wonder pony by my side!

I just want to say a huge huge thank you to Hannah for creating this amazing legacy as if it wasn't for her I'd never have even thought about eventing and I'd probably still be sat at home every weekend with no plans for the future.

Hopefully buck and I will be able to continue climbing slowly up the levels showing what us wobbleberries are made of 💪💪


If you would like to follow us and watch us try to make our crazy dreams happen we are on Facebook by clicking here."
#inspiredbyHannah

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