A helping hoof has been extended to Motueka’s Riding for the Disabled, with a slick upgrade underway to the interior of the club’s shabby clubroom space.
The renovation comes thanks to Motueka Mitre 10’s Helping Hands programme, which offers practical hands-on help to nominated community groups or charities.
The club’s board had contacted Mitre 10 owner Dave Richards back in July, explaining that they were a local organisation providing therapeutic horse riding and related activities for about 50 children and adults in the community. Their worn-out club rooms, they stated, were in dire need of repair and refurbishment.
Dave thought it sounded like a worthy cause, and so he came down to check it out.
“And then I thought, oh, this is quite a big job,” he laughs. Not to be put off, he decided it could still be done with a bit of wider support.
“I managed to ring some friends and family and get some people to give up a bit of time and money.”
Volunteering their businesses’ time and expertise alongside Mitre 10 are Josh Fraser from Flooring Xtra, Precision Painters’ Brent Pickworth, Danny Neal from Tranquillity Plumbing, DR Build’s Daniel Richards, and Luuk Hermens from Motueka Electrical.
The work is due to be finished later this month and will leave the space with new flooring, freshly painted walls, a new kitchen, and a warmer and more modern ambience.
Motueka RDA’s office administrator Michelle Harbour says that it is wonderful to see the renovations taking shape, as the new space provides a more accurate reflection of the organization’s work and vision.
“We run a really professional programme, and now it looks like we do,” she explains. “We’re just so grateful to everybody giving their time and expertise.”
RDA helps people with physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as assisting with confidence, emotional regulation. The programme deals with people of all ages and currently has clientele from three to 68 years old.
Dave says there are quite a few horse lovers on the Mitre 10 staff, and he can see the difference that RDA makes within the community.
“Seeing the kids smile today is fantastic, isn’t it?”
