A MUM whose daughter has benefited from horse riding activities with a local group for almost a decade has given back to the “fantastic” charity by raising hundreds of pounds from her first ever 10k run.

Jo Daunter, from Lydbrook, pushed herself to the limit to complete her first ever 10k at the end of March, and managed to raise nearly £600 for local charity Forest Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) in the process.

Jo’s 13 year-old daughter Freya has been riding with the group since she was four, and her parents are “very proud” of everything she has achieved.

In her time with the group, Freya has entered many competitions and even reached the RDA’s national finals at Hartpury before lockdown.

Jo began her running journey in lockdown and last September joined a 0-5k running group, before moving into a 5-10k group soon after.

Her ‘Graduation’ run was on March 25, and she figured if she was going to run 10k, she might as well do it for a good cause.

Freya is still riding with Forest RDA and “absolutely loves it”, so Jo decided that the charity was the cause she wanted to support.

Jo said: “Forest RDA do a fantastic job giving all their time and dedication voluntarily.

“All the children and adults that ride get so much pleasure from it.

“It helps participants on many levels from independence to confidence and cognitive development.”

Forest RDA, which is based at the Severnvale Equestrian Centre in Tidenham, provides mental and physical wellbeing support to disabled people of all ages through guided riding sessions led by a team of local volunteers.

Although part of the national RDA network, it receives no central funding and relies on its own fundraising efforts, along with donations from the community and charitable trusts.

For more information about the group, go to www.forestrda.org.uk.