​Darren Ashton, seen here, received a grant from The Mark Dower Trust to purchase a new saddle and stirrups to enable him to pursue his ambition of riding in the Paralympics.

​When he was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, Darren wondered how he would maintain his independence and find a purpose for his life. Darren discovered that horse-riding was a way he could continue to move freely without his wheelchair. Not satisfied with attending group sessions, Darren has thrown himself into competitive riding; attending and placing in national competitions. His personal journey of determination and resilience saw him named as Rider of the Year 2017 (Riding for the Disabled Association). Until the Mark Dower Grant was awarded, Darren had only a basic saddle, designed for able-bodied, non-competitive beginners.  We are delighted to award a grant to such an inspiring young man and wish Darren all the best in his equestrian endeavors. 

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Emma, shown here, explains below how the Mark Dower grant has helped her.


​'Over the last few years I have been more determined to build muscle strength, even moving house so I could live closer to the gym. The award has helped me to fund personal training sessions and attend weekly spin classes, both of which have increased my muscle mass and given me a more stable core. As a result, simple day-to-day tasks have been made easier and my PT has commented that I am a more confident, happy individual. Although I have some physical limitations, maintaining a regular, targeted regime has improved my quality of life and ultimately the minimising of progression of my Ataxia.'

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​Aila, seen here with her new camera, explains below how the Mark Dower award has helped her.
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'I won the award to partly fund my new professional camera, so that I can take top quality photos to sell.  I'll be able to take impressively sharp and colour-accurate photos, which will be of high enough quality to blow up to any size, giving me the option to sell large prints, which I haven't been able to before. Since my new camera will be so much smaller and lighter than anything I've had before, it will be easier to handle and more portable, especially as my condition worsens and I get weaker.  I'm so excited for my camera to arrive. I'm looking forward to photographing again after so long, especially doing something productive again and feel in charge of my life again, since I will be the boss of my company.'