R50 000 towards SA Riding for the Disabled Association

After a successful Durban July, the Hollywood foundation has donated r50 000 towards the South African riding for the Disabled Association (SArDA), which will go towards improving the overall functioning of children living with physical and mental disabilities.

“When Hollywoodbets came on board as the naming rights sponsor for the Durban July, we also got to inherit some amazing projects and one of those was having a community organisation of choice that we can support through the sponsorship. SArDA has been a beneficiary for the last few years and we have been absolutely blown away by the amazing work that SArDA does with children living with disabilities and special needs,” said Devin Heffer, Hollywoodbets brand and communications manager.

“Each horse carrying a child would require three volunteers. Everyone working at SArDA are volunteers. Libby and the SArDA team are doing incredible things here, giving these young children an experience that uplifts them, empowers them and strengthens their bond with nature. But most importantly it gives them and their loved one’s hope, and we at Hollywoodbets live by the motto that hope is power.”

SArDA is a non¬-profit organisation supported by the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and provides specialised horse-riding classes to mentally and physically handicapped children of varying degrees. The wellbeing of these children is prioritised with classes at no cost to children up to the age of 16. Instructors and trainee instructors are volunteers and are readily available to provide training sessions to the children, for five mornings a week at the ridge Top Stables in Shongweni. The horse-riding sessions, which include sensory experiences such as touching the leaves and barks of trees, have proven to make a mean ingful difference in the lives of these children, helping them to keep calm and develop their muscles.

Gold Circle has also partnered with the Hollywood foundation in matching a R50 000 sponsorship for SArDA.

Libby Durk, chairperson of SArDA Durban said the organisation is sincerely grateful for the sponsorship from the Hollywood foundation and that being able to purchase new and additional equipment means the world to them.

“The children who participate in our therapeutic riding lessons are special children with special needs. The new equipment will brighten our arena, therefore, brightening the lives of these special children. Thank you, Hollywood foundation.”

In addition, the foundation contributed an array of equipment to make the lives of the children even better at the organisation. Some of the equipment included grooming kits, tables, chairs, rainbow reins, arena equipment and ladder reins. The handover of the equipment took place at ridgetop Equestrian Centre in Assagay.

Libby Durk, chairperson of SArDA Durban, together with one of the horses. Picture by Londiwe Gumede.

Early childhood development and sports development continues to be a major focus for the Hollywood foundation. The team also seeks to actively make a positive contribution in the lives of many children across the country, despite their physical and mental capabilities. Known as equine therapy, the work that SArDA does with horses promotes physical, psychological and occupational healing in people with disabilities, and is firmly aligned to the Hollywood foundation’s core focus values.

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return.”

- Nelson Mandela