Hunts ride across Dartmoor for charity

Members of six West Country hunts plus other riders will be trekking 20 miles across Dartmoor to raise money for charity. Now in its fourth year, the Dartmoor Charity Ride is the brainchild of Allen Lewis, whose son Paul suffers from autism.

Money raised at the event will help fund Paul’s participation in the Son-Rise programme, an American therapy that has enabled the five-year-old to talk.

“Paul used to choke when he tried to speak – two years ago he was completely mute but now he can ask for anything he wants,” said Allen, former kennel huntsman for the Spooners and West Dartmoor .

All participants will leave the East Dart Hotel at Postbridge at 11am (after port and sherry) on 15 April, led by Dave Crocker, a Dartmoor Ministry of Defence ranger. The ride will follow a circular route through the Dartmoor National Park and is estimated to take four hours. Medals will be presented to all riders by Jeffrey Cox MP at the halfway stage. The finish line will be at the Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale where a hearty buffet will be laid on.

Trainer Mick Channon has donated an auction prize of a breakfast tour of his yard near Newbury for four people and South Devon Hunt are sponsoring the ride.

“The whole hunting community has been hugely supportive,” said Allen Lewis. “I really hope the ride will earn enough to fund an outreach Son-Rise worker for Paul.”

For more information about the Dartmoor Charity Ride contact (tel: 01822 614335).

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