A German woman trekking through the county this week on a unique fundraising mission will complete the first leg in Donegal town this afternoon with her horse and furry friend.
Sandra Schmid, originally from Germany but a resident of West Cork for many years, is riding the Wild Atlantic Way from Malin Head to Bantry Bay on Skye the horse, accompanied by her trusty canine companion, Turnip.
Sandra welcomes the opportunity to connect with locals as she journeys through the Donegal countryside. She loves to break the journey with a chat, and no better county than Donegal for that!
The trio will finish this year’s fundraiser ride in Donegal town at at around 3pm today, where people who haven’t seen them on the road can meet them.
“It was such a brilliant time we had riding around Donegal, everyone was so kind and generous and helpful, and we raised quite a bit of money, too,” she told Donegal Daily this morning.
You can reach her on 087 9389867, or through her Facebook page, Hairy Henry.
Sandra is the founder and director of the Hairy Henry Care Farm in West Cork, which provides therapeutic riding and farm activities to children and adults with special needs. This trek is all in aid of the Hairy Henry Educational Trust, specifically their programme called “Giddy Up and Go.”
“Giddy Up and Go” aims to support young teenagers who face challenges in mainstream school settings. The program leverages the calming and therapeutic influence of horses at the Hairy Henry Care Farm to offer these teens a meaningful experience in an inclusive setting and build on their personal, inter social and life skills and resilience.
To donate directly to the “Giddy Up and Go” program, visit the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/educational-programme-for-young-teens
