Andrew Driffield. Image supplied.
Virtus Global Games Fundraiser
The sixth edition of the Virtus Global Games, the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment, is set to be held in Vichy, France from 4 to 10 June 2023. Thousands of athletes from Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania will perform across ten main sports – and this year, an equestrian division has been included.
Australia has selected a team of three athletes: Andrew Driffield from Scone, Hunter Valley, NSW; Sarah Sherwood from Tallebudgera Valley, Gold Coast, QLD; and Sui Watts from Mitchell Island, Mid North Coast, NSW.
Competing overseas of course comes at financial expense to the athletes and their families. As has been the case many times in the past, Heath Ryan of Ryan’s Horses is leading the charge to help raise the funds required.
Sarah Sherwood. Image supplied.
“There are numerous bodies making donations, which is fantastic,” says Heath. “However, the team still needs $70,000. This will get our three Australian riders to France, compete in the Virtus Global Games, and get them back home again safely. It will also help guarantee at least one parent to also be able to go and support their son or daughter. I think this is paramount from a health and safety point of view.
Heath’s commitment to the fundraising was sparked by his personal connection with one of the athletes. “My connection is with Andrew Driffield who worked for me as a working pupil some 25 years ago and this was in the time when other working pupils working for me included Kevin McNab, Boyd Martin and my younger brother Matt Ryan. All three of these boys have gone on to be Olympic and/or World Championship medallists. When they were all working for me so long ago at the New South Wales Equestrian Centre the conversation was always about riding for Australia and competing at the Olympics. Andrew Driffield who was part of that team of ‘out of control’ young people adopted this ride for your country whole heartedly and has lived and worked for the dream of riding for Australia for all of these years.”
Heath says that Andrew is incredibly excited to have been selected for the Virtus Global Games, but finding the resources to attend is challenging. “He is going crazy with excitement. Andrew and his family do not have access to lots of resources and of course I have told him that I will help with his expenses through fundraising. This is my moment to step up! As it turns out, the other two selected riders, Sara Sherwood and Sui Watts, are also short of funds and are looking at a situation where not even their parents can afford to go.”
As Heath explains, the Virtus Global Games are imminent, so we need to get cracking quickly. As such, Heath is hoping to have an online auction ready to go by 5pm, 24 April and have it finish up on 12 May – just over two weeks before the team leaves for France, providing time for Australian Virtus Global Games team Chef d’Equipe, Jenny Carroll, to distribute the funds and purchase uniforms etc.
Sui Watts. Image supplied.
The call is now out for auction donations!
Nominate has agreed to run the online auction as part of the fundraising process. The auction facility and all of the labour involved is being donated by Nominate, who have been long term supporters of all things equestrian.
“I hope I am not being unrealistic, but I am expecting a huge response Australia wide in terms of support donating product which can be auctioned in this fundraiser,” says Heath. “Goodness knows I need a huge response! I personally will be donating three stallion service fees to be auctioned with an on-farm value of $5000. If this was to raise $4000 in real cash, that would be brilliant.
“So, the crunch line is that I am really asking you to donate in some form or another, a product that we can put online and auction. I am hoping there will be cases of wine, bed and breakfast stays, pub stays, restaurant vouchers, fishing trips, artwork, farrier vouchers, self-care vouchers, homemade chutneys and the list, I hope, will go on and on and on. No product is too big and no product is too small.
“I think this is a very good thing for all of us to be at least a little involved in and I think it is a very good thing for Australia.”
Who else has donated thus far?
- Bates Saddles Australia have donated a top of the range saddle of the winner’s choosing. Either dressage or jumping, with a value of $6,000.
- Sharon Jarvis, as our three-time Australian Paralympic Rider and World Championship double bronze medallist, has donated Paralympic clothing which will be framed and autographed.
- Kelato have already contacted Heath three times making sure that he hasn’t forgotten them and their offer of support.
- Kerry Gillespie from Horseland Head Office didn’t even wait for Heath to explain the whole situation, and just said that Horseland was very interested and would be very supportive.
- Olympic Dressage rider, Sue Hearn has donated two dressage lessons.
- Triple Olympic gold medallist, Matt Ryan has donated two Eventing lessons.
And no doubt the list has grown since writing this!
How can you donate?
1. Enclose the following information in an email to info@ryanshorses.com.au:
a. Name of business/individual/family making product donation
b. Contact details of business/individual/family making product donation
c. High quality and clear image of donated product. Multiple images would be great if applicable.
d. Brief description of the donated product
e. Retail value of the donated product
f. Very briefly please describe what is unique about your product. A personal unique angle. This is a unique moment and everyone involved is unique.
2. Please do not send product to Ryan’s Horses. Auction winners will be advised to contact you direct for product delivery.
3. Please send the above information by 12 midday (AEST) Monday 24th April.
4. Please know we are very grateful for your support.
Cash donations welcome!
“There will be those of you out there who would like to make a small cash donation,” adds Heath. “I personally will donate $5.00 to the Go Fund Me page. There is no cash donation that is too small or too large. Some of our recent Facebook posts have reached 150,000 people. If each person was to donate $1.00, we will have far exceeded our wildest expectations.”
Donate via the Go Fund Me page here.
Heath explains that driving this whole show will be Mary Nitschke, the current Australian Under 25 Grand Prix Dressage Champion. “She is much more pleasant to speak to than me. Mary will be on call and driving this whole project 24/7 from now until all funds have been duly distributed, which should be by 19 May. This responsibility which Mary is about to shoulder is mighty and thank you Mary.
“This Virtus Global Games Fundraiser is a great cause and please be aware, your efforts here are much more far reaching than you can ever imagine in terms of Australia’s future. Please help us out!”
