Drivers unite for charity trek

Four international carriage drivers are planning to drive 140 miles over 10 days to raise funds for the spinal injury charity ASPIRE.

Called ‘Wheels in Motion’, the drive will start today (Friday 23 May) at 10 am and finish on Monday 2 June.

The four drivers taking part are Steve Merryweathers,Carol Porter, Rachel Stevens and Lindsey Tyas. They plan to drive from the Salisbury Spinal Injuries Unit to the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit and then onto the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.

All the four drivers have sufferedserious spinal injuries at some point in their lives and have been treated at these specialist units – hence the decision to visit them on route.

They intend to raise around £25,000, which will go towards the refurbishment of the Graham Hill Unit based at Stanmore. This unit gives patients suffering from spinal injuries the opportunity to spend private time with their partners and family as part of their rehabilitation programme.

As Lindsey Tyas, who co-ordinated the drive with the help of Steve Merryweathers, explains, the main aim of the ride is to promote ASPIRE and the awareness of equestrian sports for people with disabilities. “This drive will show people that, with the right support, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”

For the duration of the drive, both carriage drivers and their horses will stay in bed and breakfast accommodation. Their days will be spent driving for around four hours each day with a view to cover about 10 miles daily.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the drive should click here to email Lindsay.

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