Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

18 year old Emma McLean from Seaton, who volunteers with children with additional needs at The Donkey Sanctuary’s donkey assisted therapy in Sidmouth, has been chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Exeter on Sunday 20th May.

Aspiring doctor Emma has been helping out at The Donkey Sanctuary on Saturdays and during school holidays for over a year now, and says she really enjoys the experience:

After a couple of weeks off, due to a flu like virus at the end of February/beginning of March, I’ve finally managed to return to my training schedule and have been desperately trying to catch up for lost time.

Stocked up on vitamins, and rattling along the way, I have managed to clock up more miles than ever before and finally feel like I am starting to get somewhere.

Sidmouth residents are being invited to bag a bargain at a local riding therapy charity’s Table Top Sale on Saturday 17th March from 10am.

The Parents & Friends Association (PFA) at The Donkey Sanctuary’s Sidmouth riding therapy centre is organising the sale to raise funds so that it can continue its free service.

The sale will run from 10am until 1pm with refreshments available throughout the day. Admission and parking is free for buyers, and sellers will be charged at £5.00 per table.

After another amazing week I am now looking forward to running 'The Virgin London Marathon' more than ever and can't wait until race day in 11 weeks' time. By all means I still have a long way to go, but I finally feel like the training and hard work is starting to pay off and this is beginning to reflect in the amount of time I spend on my feet and the mileage I do.

Wow, what a week... time seems to be flying by so quickly that April will be here before I know it!

Well where do I start? This past week really has been amazing. I've managed my longest run to date and the support I have received from people so far has been overwhelming. So far I have raised a massive £359 for EST and the sponsorship keeps trickling in, which is fantastic. Everyone has been so kind and generous; I can't thank you all enough.

On Sunday 22nd April I will be taking part in the Virgin London Marathon 2012 to raise funds for riding therapy sessions for children with special needs at The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST).