Ronke Phillips helping London's youth

You may have seen ITV London Tonight reporter Ronke Phillips finish her marathon run a couple of weeks ago. In a blaze of red she featured on the evening news happily telling of her first marathon experience and of the charity she had put herself through months of training to raise money for.

A patron of the Ebony Horse Club, Brixton, Ronke uses every opportunity to speak passionately about the charity’s work and the lifeline that it provides for disadvantaged local children and young people.

Ronke says of her marathon run and her efforts to raise money for the club:

I grimaced, puffed, panted, swore, smiled, laughed, shouted, chanted, sang, prayed, pleaded and at one point shed a tear but the important thing is I made it. I ran the London Marathon!

I can honestly say it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Everything everyone told me about 20 miles being the ‘real’ half way mark was true. My knee gave way at mile 21 and my legs felt as though they belonged to someone else and weighed 5 stone apiece by mile 23.

For the first time in my life, I cursed the sun. It was stifling. Running in the heat was a nightmare. What kept me going was the encouragement of the crowds. They were amazing. If you were there, cheering, cajoling and willing the runners on then thank you. You made it all worthwhile.

Also there in my mind’s eye inspiring me to finish, Ebony Horse Club; the charity I was running for.

There has been recent outbreak of youth violence in South London and this had lead to a surge in demand for places at Ebony.  Horse riding has a therapeutic affect on the children and it is touching to see how they respond to the animals. These are the poorest and most needy children you will ever come across. It isn’t only money which is lacking in their lives in many cases it is love, structure and hope. If groups like Ebony don’t step in these youngsters will be lost to gangs, drugs and crime.  

Those who are fortunate enough to have ambition and parents who care, lack confidence and have few opportunities.  Ebony exposes them to a world which rewards discipline, order and hard work. The people who run the charity are totally dedicated. They have a profound influence on the youngsters.

For every single one of you who supported me by making a donation can I say thank you, thank you, thank you.  I am so, so grateful.  For those of you who promised, there’s still time. Even the smallest donation makes a difference! (click here to donate)

Until now the youngsters have had to be taken to other riding clubs for lessons. This has obviously created problems and added to costs. Now, after years of fund-raising Ebony is building its very own riding centre on the Loughborough Estate in Brixton. By the end of October eight horses will be stabled there permanently.   

The battle now is to keep raising enough money for running costs and that’s where your donation comes in. Every penny goes a long way, so once again thank you for caring. You have helped to change the course of a youngsters life.

WGC

Picture: Ronke Phillips.