Charity News

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

Date

April 11 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

Life on the Left Shoulder

Written By Team Willberry . - April 11 2019

Hi everyone,
My name is Bradberry and I am a Wonderpony. A few years ago I was plucked from the Willberry stand at Barbury International Horse Trials to join TEAMBRITNELL and David Britnell Eventing. I was immediately named Bradberry after the stablename,Brad, which is David’s top horse, Continuity.
What followed has been a roller coaster, literally! I live life on the left shoulder of David Britnell which is an exhilarating spot to be. I have my own cross country colours which match David’s and scarf to keep the chill out. I am strapped safely onto his cross country bib with red electrical tape but I am relieved to hear that my Willberry family have invented a Willberry harness so my next event should be supremely comfortable. My job is very important as I look after the kit and lorry when they are outside doing jobs and then, when David gets kitted up to ride I navigate. Don’t tell anyone but he once missed out a fence before I joined the team.
I also check distances, help to keep him balanced, keep an eye on the clock and cheer them both on. It’s not outside assistance if it’s inside assistance! I keep a check on those pesky corner and skinny flags too, as they are a real worry these days. Not that Brad ever means to do anything other than go between them.
Someone asked me the other day whether I love David or Brad more. I simply couldn’t answer because we are all brothers when we are galloping and flying those huge fences. Of course I also get to help out with David’s other rides too and regularly get dusty and wet though thankfully rarely muddy.
Last season we completed Blenheim and went to France to compete at Pau in our first 4, now 5* and following an exciting Belton and Larkhill aboard Brad's stable mates (where the start team tried to rename me “Attackberry” on account of Gmas (David’s Mum Dawn who wears a pink #KICKINGCANCERSBUTT wristband) war cry when we are about to start) we are now preparing for our first visit to Badminton. Actually it will be their second visit as they were 5th in the Grassroots Championships in 2012/13.
I am looking forward to hearing the commentators talking about Hannah, Willberry and the wonderful charity they set up as we ride round the cross country course. I may not hear all of it, what with the wind in my ears, Brad’s hooves thundering and the sound of the crowd, but I know she will be watching us and cheering us on.
Crack on as David always says,
Love 

Bradberry x

Date

March 31 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

Burghley Sponsored ride

Written By Team Willberry . - March 31 2019

How exciting does this look? Willberry is off to practice his jumping with Doris, he reckons they might need a little work if they're to get over any of the 5* fences...

Date

March 31 2019

Written By

Team Willberry .

February's Fundraising!

Written By Team Willberry . - March 31 2019

 

Kathy is one of our regular fundraisers and we are so grateful for her continued support, another £100 Willberrys way!! Without all our fundraisers we could not continue to do the research and Willberry Wishes, both of which are so desperately needed.

 Total Gift Aid received has totalled £1565.13. If you are eligible for Gift Aid ticking that box really does make a huge difference in #kickingcancersbutt!
Patti organised  a Barn Dance & Disco at Faulkland Village Hall in January, we hope you all had a good Do-si-do while raising £266 towards Hannah’s wonderful charity.  
Thank you to all you Amazon buyers out there, you have raised a fantastic £83.69 while buying your goodies online. You can help add to this total by switching to Amazon Smile following this link. 
The Paypal Giving Fund paid us a fantastic £944.00 this month, Willberry and his team are so grateful to all that participate in this.
Wynnstay Agriculture in Crewkerne have a collection pot on the check out desk, this was recently emptied and they have collected £60.39.
We have received the marvellous amount of £1254.10 from Sainsburys in Frome as a donation from their carrier bags.
All our wonderful just giving & Virgin Money Giving supporters have raised a brilliant £4135.84. Derby Equestrian College asked the Derbyshire H&P Society to make their donation to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, we are astounded by how kind people can be.
Lois kindly helped organise a bake sale at Myerscough College, we hope you all enjoyed the cakes and goodies. Willberry is wishing he was there to sample the tempting treats!!
#kickingcancersbutt
#makingmemories

Recent Articles

Tags