On 14 September, Putney resident Millie Wenham rode 10 miles dressed as Mary Poppins to raise money for Kidney Care UK as part of the Wimbledon Village Stables 50th Sponsored Horse Ride.
Millie joined 19 other riders and their horses, setting off at 9.15am, walking along Wimbledon High Street as well as Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. This year marks the 50th year for the stables, which have raised over £1 million for charity with the annual event.
Millie said: “I wanted to raise money for Kidney Care UK because I was diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) in 2017. Over the last seven years my kidney function has declined further, and I am now at stage 4, which means that my kidneys are functioning between around 15 and 29%.
"Kidney Care UK has helped me to make sense of my diagnosis with clear information about kidney disease, advice on how to take control of kidney health and much needed nutritional advice with some delicious kidney friendly recipes. Having this information and knowing that there is further support should I need it has helped me feel less alone with my disease.”
We can’t thank Millie enough for everything she has done to raise funds and raise awareness of kidney disease. We receive no government funding so we rely on the generosity of our kind supporters and fundraisers, like Millie. Her support helps us to ensure that no one faces kidney disease alone.”Karen Sanderson, Senior Community Fundraising Officer, Kidney Care UK
If you would like to, you can sponsor Millie on her JustGiving page.
Fundraising like Millie's enables us to continue to provide practical, emotional and financial support to kidney patients and their families, and to keep campaigning for better kidney health and care services in the UK.