The West Midlands region of Association of Irish Riding Clubs presented Ruth Walsh with a cheque for €2,000 at their recent awards night at The Thatched Cottage in Ballycommon, Co.Tipperary.
Ruth Walsh, who is a member of Three Counties Riding Club in Tipperary, suffered from a high-grade osteosarcoma and as a result, lost her right leg below the knee at just 31 years of age. The cancer, unfortunately, spread to her lung and she underwent nine months of chemotherapy and a lung resection.
Ruth’s passion is horse-riding and she had been fundraising for the GBR ward in Cork University Hospital and for a prosthetic leg that is specifically designed for horse-riding.
Doreen Egan, secretary of the West Midlands region, became aware that Ruth needed an additional sum of money for inserts that cushion between her leg and the prosthesis and the region got behind the initiative to raise funds for this cause at final of the Topspec derby league and also from donations from clubs and the AIRC.
Tony Ennis, chairman of the West Midlands region, gave a moving address and acknowledged how the support for one from our own community is so important and has to be commended. Ruth also received the Chairpersons award on the night.
Meanwhile, the prizegiving took place for the TopSpec Derby League and the Regional Dressage League while members who had won a championship or a national competition during the year were also recognised on the night.
