Sue Kirkpatrick is a communications co-ordinator for NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Out of Hours service. Her daughter Stephie has worked with the Chariots of Fire Driving Centre near Lockerbie for the last ten years. Since 2007 Stephie has also supported Sports Driving Unlimited, a registered charity which provides people with disabilities with the opportunity to take part in sports carriage driving.
When the charity’s founder and lead coach Amanda Saville-Nisbet sadly lost her battle against cancer in February Sue decided she wanted to do something to raise funds to support Sports Driving Unlimited in Amanda’s memory. And so the Dumfries and Galloway Three Peaks Challenge was born.
Sue said: “Amanda’s death was a real blow for the people involved with Sports Driving Unlimited. Everyone who knew her or saw her work with horses knows she was a remarkable woman. She was also a no-nonsense kind of person. She would have wanted the charity to carry on as normal and I want to help make that happen. My friend Anne suggested a Dumfries and Galloway Three Peaks Challenge where we climb Criffel, Screel and Merrick in one day.
“It’s quite daunting, until now I had never climbed a hill, but on Saturday 25 June Anne and I will be joined by several colleagues from the Out of Hours team including co-ordinators, drivers, health care support workers and GPs. We’re aiming to raise £600 to help the charity continue to fund sessions for the many people who benefit from working with and driving the ponies. We’re grateful for any donation people can give for this worthwhile cause.”
Admin officer Anne Scott is the one who suggested this monumental challenge and she’ll be with Sue every step of the way. She said: “Sports Driving Unlimited is a brilliant organisation and it brings pleasure to so many people who otherwise might not get the chance to take part in such an exciting sport.”
To help Sue, Anne and their colleagues reach their £600 target please visit their Local Giving Page at https://localgiving.org/dumfriesandgallowaythreepeakschallenge or pop in to the Out of Hours office next to the Orthopaedic Out Patient’s Department at Dumfries and Galloway Infirmary where you can also pick up a sponsor form.
To see more of what Amanda started, and what her amazing team there are working so hard to continue, please visit the website at www.sportsdrivingunlimited.org.uk.
PICTURE SHOWS: (left to right) Stephie White, Anne Scott, Emma Neale, Mick Kirkpatrick, Robin Park and Sue Kirkpatrick
