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Hunt supporter, Lottie Rymer, sets herself a summer holidays challenge

A teenage hunt supporter who survived a horrific hunting accident in 2017, has embarked on an eight-week challenge to raise funds for three charities close to her heart by taking part in eight different epic weekly challenges.

Lottie Rymer, 17, daughter of the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase's chairman Pete, decided to fill her school holidays - which will be without the usual summer family holiday due to the coronavirus pandemic - to raise funds for Mind, Epilepsy Research and Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Air Ambulance.

Starting on Friday, 10th July with a 12 hour "Danceathon", Lottie will run a staggered marathon by completing 9km each day for five days in week two, followed by swimming the equivalent of crossing the English Channel over five days in week three. To complete this challenge, Lottie will have to swim almost 600 lengths of the pool at her family's Northamptonshire farm every day for five days.

Three years ago, Lottie was knocked unconscious after being dragged over 30 metres when her foot became caught in her stirrup after a hunting fall which resulted in surgery to her face. She has suffered some neurological issues ever since but has made an incredible recovery and is back in the saddle ready for the start of the autumn hunting season.

Lottie explained why she had chosen to raise funds for three different charities: "After my fall it seemed that it was going to be necessary to use the services of the air ambulance but we all know how expensive these are to operate and luckily there was a farm track which enabled the road ambulance to take me to hospital instead, however it was a real comfort to me and my family to know that is was available should it have been critical so I want to raise much-needed funds or this local charity to ensure it is there for others who may be less fortunate than me."

"I lost my cousin Caspar to epilepsy four years ago so raising funds for research into the disease is close to the hearts of me and my family, while I also wanted to raise money for Mind due to the impact that COVID-19 is having one people's mental health during and after the extensive lockdown period," continued Lottie who has been keeping herself fit by running throughout lockdown.

Polly Portwin, Head of Hunting at the Countryside Alliance and a former Master of the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase said: "Lottie has made an incredible recovery from the injuries she sustained on the hunting field and it is the same determination and bravery that she showed during her recovery which will no doubt ensure she manages to complete the challenges to raise funds for these three incredibly worthwhile causes. Good luck Lottie!"

The other challenges that Lottie has set herself include five days of community service, the Yorkshire Peak challenge, cycling the distance from London to Brighton over five days, an ultimate triathlon and a long-distance ride involving overnight camping with her hunter Bart which has become known as "The Bart Challenge".

To follow Lottie's progress, visit her Instagram page: lottiesgr8adventures

Lottie's fundraising pages can be found here:

92 year-old Aileen Rymer joins granddaughter Lottie in her Danceathon.

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