A TEENAGE fundraiser from Rugby has battled through her ‘toughest challenge’ yet in aid of a horse welfare charity.
Izzy Wright completed a 24-hour tandem bike ride to raise money for Redwings.
On the eve of her 14th birthday, she cycled 196 miles – 14 times around the 14-mile circuit at Redwings Oxhill Visitor Centre in Warwickshire – starting at midday on Saturday August 4 and finishing at midday the following day.
Family, friends and supporters took turns to pilot the tandem for Izzy during the gruelling fundraiser, which has raised almost £1,800 of her £2,000 target in sponsorship so far.
Dad Richard Jones said: “I’m so proud of her.
“Izzy really struggled during the last six hours of the challenge and had to pull out every ounce of mental fortitude to get the job done.
“The night time was difficult – it was cold, her knees hurt, and the sleep deprivation was affecting her a lot.
“There were times when she was ready to throw the towel in, only for her to dig that little bit deeper and keep going.”
Izzy has already raised over £6,000 for Redwings by tandem-cycling 740 miles between all five of the charity’s Visitor Centres last summer, climbing two of the three highest peaks in Wales in 2022, and hiking 100 miles around the Shetland Islands with support from dad Rich and family friend Dave Wright in 2021.
Izzy said: “This was the toughest challenge so far but I’m so glad I completed it.
“I couldn’t have done it without everyone who came to support me, and I want to say thanks to them.”
Her love of horses – and of her favourite charity – began at an even younger age.
She said: “I don’t have a horse of my own, but I love and ride horses.
“My nan took me to my local Redwings visitor centre when I was eight and it gave me the idea that I wanted to raise money to help them. I decided I wanted to do something every summer.
“My dad and I are really into fitness so we wanted to do things that would be a good challenge.
“If anyone hasn’t sponsored me yet, and would like to, that would be amazing. Every penny goes towards the fantastic horses, ponies and donkeys who Redwings rescue.”
Debbie Scott, Head of Fundraising at Redwings, said it was an incredible achievement.
She added: “We are so in awe of Izzy and her team for their unbelievable challenges, which seem to get more and more gruelling and more and more inventive too!
“Thank you so much Izzy and to everyone who has kindly sponsored her amazing efforts.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/5n6p4s55 to sponsor Izzy.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary which rescues abandoned and mistreated horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. It is currently responsible for over 2,000 rescued horses and donkeys across the UK. Visit www.redwings.org.uk/support-us/fundraise-for-us to support the charity.
