Golfers raise £6,500 for New Yatt (From Witney Gazette)

Golfers raise £6,500 for New Yatt

11:22am Thursday 15th March 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

DISABLED horse riders are benefiting from a year-long fundraising effort by a golfers.

Members of Witney Lakes Golf Club donated more than £6,500 to the New Yatt Riding for the Disabled Group, based in North Leigh.

The cash was raised in a series of fundraising efforts, including a summer ball, raffle, and sponsored activities. Libby Hartwell, group organiser, said: "We were absolutely amazed to receive such a huge sum.

"Part of the donation will be spent on improvements to our site, and the money will also be put towards our annual running costs, which are in excess of £15,000."

New Yatt Riding for the Disabled Group is an independent charity, run by unpaid volunteers. It has nine working horses and ponies, and provides riding instruction to more than 60 children and adults from West Oxfordshire each week.

The group operates from a purpose-built site with an indoor arena, built in 2004, with the help of grants and donations, following a £132,000 fundraising effort.

Golfer Dave Palfreyman, who chose the New Yatt group as the club's good cause after being elected captain of Witney Lakes Golf Club last year, said: "We wanted to support a small local charity, where all the money would go directly into activities rather then administration."