A Torbrex woman whose day job is keeping trains running on Britain’s West Coast mainline has taken to cycling to raise funds local charity Equi-Power while working from home.
Eileen Abbess is already on target to cover 500 miles in five weeks to support a campaign to build a new Riding for the Disabled (RDA) centre of excellence in the city’s Kildean area. She’s aiming to raise £5,000.
Equi-Power has the daunting task of finding more than £140,000 from crowdfunding, even before they can start applying for grants to build the £2m state-of-the-art facility to replace one at Sauchieburn in Bannockburn.
The Bannockburn Riding for the Disabled facility was shut down in 2015 following a bitter dispute with a new landowner, which saw the RDA and around 200 of its young riders evicted.
Since the beginning of the New Year Eileen has clocked up more 260 miles and raised more than £1,000.
In foul weather and on dark January nights she has added to her on-the-road total on an exercise bike.
“It’s actually harder that being out in the real world. You can’t free wheel down a hill on an exercise bike,” she said.
Eileen hopes that a major push in the first week of February, while she’s on holiday from her job as programme director for the West Coast Partnership, will see her reach her distance and cash targets.
She is confident of achieving the miles - but admits that, financially, a lot depends on the people who are following her efforts on Crowdfunder online. will turn their support into donations.
“The task facing Equi-Power is enormous,” said Eileen. “I got involved in part through my friendship with Amanda Namey, who is in charge of the development, and around Christmas time we talked about how fundraising was going.
“At that point it was trickling in, mostly from the people directly involved and their friends and families.
“I thought, well I’m independent and have a large circle of friends and colleagues, so maybe I can do something to help.
“The best part of getting involved is the fact that I’ve discovered the joy of being outside whatever the weather and being active. I’m pleased that my fitness has been good enough to keep going and I think I will keep on, though maybe not on the same scale. The worst part has been keeping going on tired legs.”
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Equi-Power is chaired by David James, who has had a career in education for the agricultural and rural industries. He is a one-time principal of Oatridge College in West Lothian, where he oversaw the planning and construction of the Scottish National Equestrian Centre.
He said: “We need people like Eileen to help with the crowdfunding effort if we are to succeed and I am very grateful to all of them.
“The closure of the Bannockburn RDA centre, which was probably one of the best in the country, was a tragedy. Stirling Council has been very supportive and now we are close to an agreement to lease the land at Kildean. It is a great site, near the river and overlooked by Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument. We have appointed architects and we have a plan.
“Fundraising ideas are coming in almost daily with plans like tackling a 5K run at an inflatable obstacle course, climbing Dumyat carrying a giant replica of a horse, doing a virtual walk from Lands’ End to John O’Groats and taking part in the annual Kiltwalk. Further details can be found at https://crowdfunder.co.uk/startsomethingspecial
“With the help of more people like Eileen we believe we will see Kildean rise like a phoenix from the ashes of Bannockburn.”
