If you are looking to do a fundraiser for charity, as part of our charitable commitments, Advance will match your fundraising efforts. Let us know what you are doing and share with us any pictures together with a few words and we will help promote your fantastic effort.

Advance Vice President, Nicola O’Shea recently completed “Cantering for a Cure”. More from Nicola below…

Cantering for a cure, Blaze, Shoes and the battle against bone cancer

This September, Blaze and I saddled up for a challenge: 150 miles in the saddle to raise funds for the Bone Cancer Research Trust Charity, a cause close to my heart. That’s a LOT of riding, every mile was worth it for such a wonderful cause.

Blaze is a special horse with a big heart (and sometimes lots of attitude!). Together, we completed the challenge through wind, rain and the occasional “why are we doing this again” look from Blaze. We trotted and cantered and did have some nicer days where we could feel our fingers and hooves!.

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth cantering. Blaze, ever the party animal, decided to add some extra drama by pulling off his front shoe whilst horsing around in the field with his friends (He claims it was a tactical pit stop – personally, I think he just wanted extra play time in the field!) But nothing could keep this superstar down for long. A quick visit from the farrier, shoe back on, mane flying, Blaze was ready to rack up more miles.

I’m so incredibly proud of Blaze for taking everything in his stride, and for being the bravest, most honest horse I could ask for even when the weather was more “duck pond” than “riding trail”. Blaze has his rosettes that he received proudly displayed on his stable.

With muddy boots, a proud heart and a slightly mischievous horse

Nicola and Blaze, the shoeless wonder. 

Well done to Nicola and Blaze on your fantastic achievement!

To find out more about match funding, please talk to your NEC rep in the first instance.

Contact your NEC rep for more details

Sinead Purse – City Quays, Northern Ireland

Orla Kelly – City Quays, Northern Ireland

Nicola O’Shea – Bradford Nelson Street

Arthur Lord – Bradford Nelson Street

Damien Brown – Sheffield Carbrook Hall

Cheryl Blades – Scotland

Andrew Dean – North of England

Kushboo Kapadia – London, inc Triton & Redhill

Julie Wilkinson – Teeside & DL Sites

Lee Summers – Unity Place

Mike Mewett – South Locations.

To email your NEC rep -firstname@advance-union.org

Not sure who to ask? Contact the Advance office on   01442 891122 or email us info@advance-union.org