7:10am Friday 3rd September 2010
By Paul Teed
A pony club that could be left homeless if it does not save its field raised a staggering £25,000 at fundraising events over the bank holiday weekend.
The Mid Surrey Pony Club took £3,000 when about 1,000 visitors attended its village fete in Hurst Road, Walton-on-the-Hill. Families enjoyed a dog show, a balloon race, a display by majestic Spanish stallions and games including “guess the bear’s name”.
Participants in a charity auction then made an “incredible” total of £22,000 at a race day at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Monday. Generous pony club supporters donated top prizes including a day in a yacht and a Somerset cottage holiday.
Members need to raise the £480,000 asking price for their field in Hurst Road by the time the lease expires in April next year, or face losing their barn and cross country course.
Gina Kitchener, district commissioner of the Mid Surrey Pony Club, said: “With a race night we’ve got on Friday and a fun day on Saturday, all organised by parents, by next weekend I’m hoping we’ll have £100,000 in the bank.
“That will be fantastic for a small group of fundraisers and committed people to have raised that from zero in May.”
To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/MidSurreyPonyClubAppeal
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