ESNZ Dressage are poised to launch their final big fundraising effort for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games – just 90-odd days before the championship starts.

Their efforts to raise around $100,000 for the dressage component of the New Zealand team started just over a year ago and to date they are just about a third of the way there.

Dressage New Zealand sport manager and WEG chef d’equipe Wendy Hamerton says it is a big effort, but she has been brought close to tears by the generosity of some people. “The support we have had has just been incredible,” says Hamerton. “The community has really got behind this – it is just fantastic.”

She’s talking across the board – from cash to donations of services, goods, products and more. The raffles, which have just been launched, have over $12,000 of prizes across the three. Each raffle has a value of $4,000 with 10 prizes in each and a limit of 200 tickets per raffle at $100 each, giving a 1:20 chance of winning a prize.

“That’s pretty good odds and there are some really big ticket items in each raffle,” she said.

Tickets for the raffles are available via Dressage NZ Facebook page. The raffles will be drawn live on Facebook on Monday, July 9. As well as the raffles there are going to be a number of on line auctions over the next month. Hopes are high these will all add another $60,000 to the fund once GST has been paid.

“It was always going to be a big ask to raise the $100,000.”

ESNZ Dressage has committed about $40,000 from its travel fund too and there has been support from ESNZ High Performance along with fundraisers at the new Takapoto Estate Show, as well as by dressage groups around the country.

Hamerton was part of the group who kick-started it all when they decided to do the Hawke’s Bay Half Marathon 10km walk and turn it into a fundraiser. She, Judy Alderdice, Helen Hughes-Keen and Debra Cowen raised around $3000 for their efforts.

Hamerton admits she did feel a little sick when they sat down and did the sums for WEG last year. “That said, some really lovely things have come out of it,” she said. “We have had support and offers of support from so many, and not just in New Zealand. It’s heartening to see.”

 

For more information, head to Dressage NZ Facebook page and www.nzequestrian.org.nz/news

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison