PRESS RELEASE: NATIONAL UNICORN DAY WILL STILL GO ON!

BABY UNICORN SPIDER

National Unicorn Day on 9^th April will be a bit different this year for the Riding for the Disabled Association’s Unicorn Centre in Hemlington, Middlesbrough.

Previously it had used this special day to fundraise for the Centre with a range of activities including the opportunity to ride a pony in a Unicorn-themed arena, and visit a Baby Unicorn.

The Unicorn Centre, a registered charity, is a purpose built riding for the disabled facility which offers riding therapy and learning and training opportunities for around 200 disabled adults and children from the Tees Valley area each week.  Opened in 1998, the Centre is an established part of the local community, with a strong contingent of about 100 local volunteers who assisted with riding lessons each week prior to Covid-19.

However, due to the current government Covid restrictions, on-site activities including fundraising are severely curtailed, so the Centre has turned to online fundraisers instead with a Show and a Raffle.

Classes at the Unicorn Day Show include arts and crafts, storytelling, photography and baking and cost £1 or £10 for unlimited entries. Entrants can join the Centre’s Facebook Online Show group https://www.facebook.com/groups/473597863819085and follow the instructions how to enter online and pay.

The Centre is also running an online raffle to also help the Centre weather the Covid storm.  The first prize is an Apple IPhone and there are loads of other fantastic prizes to win including signed books by children’s author Julia Donaldson. Visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/NUDRaffle21to see the list of prizes and buy tickets. The draw will be made on Monday 12th April 2021 and winners posted on social media and the Centre’s website.

Centre Manager Claire Pitt said, “These events are the brain child of our Friends of the Unicorn Centre Group, who are busy working on fundraising projects for us. They’ve been inspired by the success of our online Dog Shows, and decided to run a similar one suitable for anyone to take part. I hope we get lots of entries.

She continued, “Covid-19 has hit the Centre really hard, and we’ve had to severely restrict the services we can offer on-site. This has had a massive impact on our income, and without grants and the generosity of the public we probably wouldn’t still be here. It’s been difficult for everyone, but we’re hoping everyone will support us once again to help us carry on until we can safely re-open for riding once again at the Centre.”

19.03.21