A CHARITY champion will be embarking on a 22 mile endurance ride with her horse, Boots, to raise money for Action for Children.

Sarah Walton is the Community Lead for Action for Children’s Starting Well Partnership in South Worcestershire. The service supports local families, parents, children and young people across Worcestershire to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.

Sarah and Boots were due to take part in the ‘Man v Horse’ endurance challenge, which sees runners compete against riders on horseback to race 22 miles over mountainous terrain in Wales.

This year’s event has been postponed due to Covid restrictions, however, keen long distance rider Sarah was determined to still take on the challenge.

Sarah said: “I like to do long distances in the saddle and have done some competitive endurance in the past so looked at what was out there - that’s when I found Man v Horse. It is just as much a challenge for the riders and horses as it is for the people running. Boots is quite feisty and can be forward going so perfectly suited to long distance riding, or endurance as it is called in the horse world!

“I have worked for Action for Children for nearly twelve years and have seen first-hand the amazing work we do as an organisation for children and young people, especially during the pandemic. As everyone who knows me will tell you I am totally horse mad and this is a great opportunity to challenge myself while raising money for vulnerable children and families."

Sarah and Boots will be setting off from Kempsey Common near Worcester for the 22-mile ride at 7am on Saturday 12 June 2021.