Britain's Most Inspiring Fundraiser Nominee
Finalist - Susie Elliot
Nominated by: Ed Bracher, who works for Riding for the Disabled
Charity:Riding for the Disabled
Reason for nomination:
"...she leads by example, is an inspiration to all (whatever she's doing), and achieves amazing results. As fellow volunteers said "she makes people want to go with her" - it is this infectious enthusiasm that inspires so many people involved with RDA to achieve great things."
Actions:
RDA is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities, providing therapy through horse riding. Susie Elliot has been a fantastic champion of fundraising within RDA for 40 years. Her involvement has grown from being a local community volunteer to becoming our most successful and influential fundraisers.
As a new volunteer in Hawick in 1968 Susie recognized the need to build an indoor riding school and was the catalyst and driving force behind a significant and successful fundraising campaign raising £100,000.
Building on this success and as RDA's Regional Chair in South Scotland for nine years Susie continued to inspire others, raising £100,000 for the RDA Region and over £1,000,000 for the support of the 20 Groups within her Region. She helped 10 Groups run large capital projects, making the Region the best equipped in the UK.
But it's not just the money! It's the boundless energy and enthusiasm that persuades everyone Susie meets that anything is possible. Involving everyone, Susie has raised money from coffee mornings, raffles, auctions, sponsored runs and rides and has also persuaded businesses and trusts to support the cause. Susie's practical results speak for themselves, she is the kind of volunteer that every charity should have.
The enormous effect Susie has on RDA is impossible to measure; more than 1,500 people with disabilities ride in her Region, all enjoy the benefits of the facilities she has helped to fund and the life changing experience which is RDA.
