Teenage girl completes cycling challenge for Redwings

A teenage girl has completed a 12-day challenge that has seen her cycle hundreds of miles to every one of Redwings’ visitor centres across England and Scotland, raising over £2,000 for the charity.

Isabel Wright, who is 13-years-old and from Rugby, Warwickshire rode over 700 miles with a little help from her father Rich Jones and his best friend Dave Wright, who took it in turns to join her on a tandem bike.

Izzy completed the last leg of her fundraiser on Wednesday (30th August) when she arrived at Redwings Oxhill Visitor Centre, near her home, and the place it all started.

Izzy said: “My Grandma took me to Oxhill to visit when I was eight and it made me really want to raise money to help Redwings.

“This was my third fundraiser for them and it was really nice to end it there.

“It was really hard at times but it was also really fun.”

Izzy, Rich and Dave averaged between 50 and 70 miles a day starting at Redwings Mountains in Forfar, Angus, Scotland on Saturday (19th August) before cycling to Redwings Caldecott and Redwings Aylsham, both in Norfolk, Redwings Ada Cole in Essex and finally Oxhill.

Dad Rich said: “We’re all feeling good, we’re obviously very pleased to have completed it.

“Dave and I only did half the distance each but Izzy did the whole thing.

“Izzy is back to school this week and we’re already thinking about what we’re going to do next year!”

Debbie Scott, Head of Fundraising at Redwings, said: “We’re so grateful to Izzy, Rich and Dave.

“It’s such an incredible achievement, and we are so touched that she was inspired to do something like this for us.

“Thank you so much Izzy, and to all the people who made generous donations to her fundraiser. Supporters like you allow us to keep helping the horses, ponies, donkeys and mules who need us.”

Isabel, Rich and Dave walked 100 miles across the Shetland Islands in 2021 and the father and daughter did two of the three highest peaks in Wales in 2022 before their trip had to be cut short. The £2,495 raised for the cycling challenge brings their fundraising efforts to almost £6,000 so far. You can still donate to Isabel’s JustGiving page.

In 2022 Redwings took in 109 horses and ponies. The charity’s field officers identified and intervened in 175 cases, improving the conditions of 622 horses through advice to their owners or the removal of the equine into their care. Horses taken in so far this year include Alfie, whose owner contacted Redwings after he was found with a serious and potentially life-changing injury to his face thought to be caused by a dog attack. He has now almost fully recovered thanks to Redwings care.