A leg-up for disabled riding in Pakenham

BFirm Personal Training co-owners Michael Harold (far left) and Jarrod Matthews (far right) joined Pakenham RDA volunteers Lucy Nolan and Anne Beck and participant Aura and horse Felix to celebrate the fundraising announcement. 373698 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Matthew Sims

Pakenham’s Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia centre has received another boost as part of an ongoing partnership with Berwick business BFIRM Personal Training, with $32,000 raised during a recent charity golf day contributing towards the organisation.

Held on Friday 20 October at the Settlers Run Golf and Country Club in Botanic Ridge, the BFIRM Personal Training charity golf day was the second annual event supporting RDA Pakenham and broke last year’s record of $30,000 raised.

BFirm Personal Training co-owner Michael Harold said they were grateful for all of the work of the RDA Pakenham volunteer team in supporting people with disabilities.

“On behalf of BFirm Personal Training and all of the local community, we just wanted to say thank you,” he said.

“We hope that it can add to what we’ve all built so far,” he said.

A lot of hard work has gone into developing the RDA centre in Pakenham since it relocated from Officer last year.

Tucked away on the corner of Bald Hill Road and Five Mile Road, the 25-acre property has hosted regular riding classes for disabled people wanting to learn how to ride horses, with the facilities including a show ring with a mounting yard for people who use wheelchairs to mount the horses.

RDA Pakenham vice-president Paul Beck said they were appreciative of BFIRM’s ongoing support.

“I think today’s given us a bit of an idea of where we’re at and what it’s all about,” he said.

“It’s a great thing for the community and a great thing that we’re trying to build here.”

For more information on RDA Pakenham, contact rdapakenham@gmail.com.