The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards ceremony in London was an evening to restore your belief in the goodness of humanity, hearing inspirational acts of bravery and compassion from the last year. Definitely emotional, but uplifting too. And somehow, we were finalists in the Best Health Charity category.

Who Cares Wins is an annual event organised by The Sun to honour people who have gone above and beyond in the service of others. This year it was televised by Channel 4 for the first time. Back in the spring people were urged to nominate their NHS and charity heroes, and although Natalie didn’t know it at the time, she was nominated by volunteer Nina Bradburn.

Nina summed up her reasons as follows: “Natalie deserves to be recognised for her selfless and inspirational work and being an amazing role model, who in the past year has overcome insurmountable obstacles in order to support and bring joy to the vulnerable, shielding and the most disadvantaged members of our community during the Covid Pandemic.”

“I have always wanted people to know the power of ponies, how healing they are and that they make magic”, said Natalie

Nominations were whittled down by The Sun team and then judged by a panel which included Anthony Joshua, Penny Lancaster, Kate Garraway, Matt Lucas, Ellie Orton (CEO of NHS Charities Together), Krishnan Guru-Murthy (Channel Four news), and Christine Lampard.

The motto of the Riding for the Disabled Association is ‘it’s what you can do that counts’, and that exactly sums up why this award matters. It celebrates the collective achievement of all of the Park Lane Stables family – staff, volunteers, patrons, horses – and of the RDA as a whole. For our small stables to be recognised on a national stage, in front of Prince William, the Prime Minister, a host of well-known faces, and some amazing human beings, was very special.

Park Lane Stables were introduced as “the charity that puts the zing into amazing”

Natalie explains why it means so much: “I have always wanted people to know the power of ponies, how healing they are and that they make magic. Getting that message out nationally to the public is the biggest win of all.”

At the awards ceremony Park Lane Stables was introduced as ‘the charity that puts the zing into amazing’. Presenting the award was TV star Chris Evans, who described Park Lane Stables as “an incredible charity that supports everyone from adults with mental health issues to children with autism”, adding “They simply deal in pure joy”.

There are so many reasons why this was a night to remember.