On Monday 8 August 2016, members of Lockerbie-based Sports Driving Unlimited took part in a unique fundraising challenge to support the growth and sustainability of community sport groups across the UK. We played host to Managing Director of Signia Wealth, Carnegie Smyth, as part of his ’10:10:1000 Challenge’ in aid of the Sport for Development charity, Sported.
In ten days Carnegie is cycling 1,000km cycles from Belfast to London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, stopping off at ten Sported member clubs en-route to see first-hand how sport is being used to transform young lives.
Having set off from Belfast on Saturday 6 August, Carnegie’s visit to Sports Driving Unlimited came on the 3rd day of the challenge. Whilst visiting the club at its base in Boreland near Lockerbie, he took the opportunity to meet some of Sports Driving Unlimited’s disabled drivers and volunteers and got involved joining in and finding out for himself the excitement and thrill of carriage driving, which included a gallop round the field. Carnegie drove one of the club’s specially adapted carriages that enables wheelchair users to drive a pony without transferring out of their wheelchair.
Money raised from the ‘10:10:1000 Challenge’ will support the work of Sported. Born out of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the charity supports a network of over 3,000 community sport groups across the UK, all of which use the power of sport to broaden the horizons, raise the aspirations and develop the life skills of over 450,000 young people.
Carnegie Smyth on left with SDU coach Stephie White
Carnegie Smyth, Managing Director of Signia Wealth, said: “It’s a tough challenge, but I passionately believe sport is one of the most effective tools we have to motivate and inspire young people today. Sported supports some amazing community organisations across the UK, so it’s been a great privilege to meet some of the inspirational volunteers and, of course, try my hand at some of the sports!”
Rosemary Flexney, vice-chairperson of Sports Driving Unlimited said: “We were very pleased to welcome Carnegie to meet our talented drivers, Charlotte Thomson, Graham Smith and Samuel Parker and to see them demonstrate their carriage driving skills. Carnegie accepted our challenge of taking the reins himself and one of our coaches Stephie White gave him a short lesson. We are a proud member of Sported and value the support and networking that they provide to grass-root groups like Sports Driving Unlimited . We wish Carnegie all the best with the rest of his cycle ride around Britain to raise funds for Sported.
To donate to Carnegie’s 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/sported/carnegie10101000 .
