A HOUSEBUILDER employee has completed the Tough Mudder challenge in aid of a Newbury charity.
Michelle Bentham, 52, a Sales Adviser at David Wilson Homes Southern’s Newbury Racecourse development, undertook the challenge to raise money for the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
The RDA allows those with physical and learning disabilities and autism to gain support and therapy from learning how to ride.
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There are no age restrictions on who the charity supports, and it has so far benefitted the lives of more than 25,000 disabled adults and children across the UK through its work.
Michelle said: “The work of the RDA brings a new dimension to restricted lives, encourages independence, gives confidence and generally improves the well-being of each individual.
“The RDA is raising funds for a new full-size indoor school which will enable disabled children to ride and have fun all year round.”
Michelle completed the five-kilometre race with her daughter Sadie and her sister Shelley, raising over £1,000 for the RDA, an amount which has been matched by David Wilson Homes’ parent company, Barratt Developments.
She explained: “This was a huge personal achievement for me as it was something far out of my comfort zone.
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"It was a very hard obstacle course and we all had mud everywhere!
“We trained for weeks in advance and there was an amazing atmosphere during the race where everyone helped spur each other on.
"The whole experience was fantastic.”
Paul Crispin, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “We would like to say a big congratulations to Michelle for this achievement and for raising money for such a worthwhile cause.
“We are proud to have her as part of the team here at David Wilson Homes Southern and her efforts are an example to all of how, as a leading homebuilder, we should support our local communities.”
To find out more about the work of the Riding for the Disabled Association, please visit www.rda.org.uk.
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