PONY Magazine donates with every purchase

The April issue of PONY Magazine will come with a cute Willberry Wonder Pony pencil for every reader to raise awareness of the amazing charity, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, and the important work it does funding bone cancer research and granting ‘Willberry’s Wishes’. As well as giving readers their own Willberry Wonder Pony pencil, PONY Magazine will be donating 5p from every copy sold.

Hannah Francis was a talented young event rider, when, at just 17 years of age, she was diagnosed with aggressive osteosarcoma (a rare form of bone cancer which mainly affects children and young adults) in her pelvis. While battling brutal chemotherapy treatment, this inspirational young rider started Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity in 2016 as, typically, she wanted to help others avoid what she was having to endure. Tragically Hannah passed away later that year at just 18 years of age. The charity takes a two-pronged approach to its mission of ‘kicking cancer’s butt’ (as Hannah would say) which it does through Willberry’s Research and Willberry’s Wishes.

Willberry’s Research focuses on funding bone cancer research to fulfil Hannah’s wish that no-one with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in the future would have to endure the bleak prospects and archaic treatment that she had to go through.

Hannah set up the Willberry’s Wishes arm of the charity because the amazing experiences she was able to enjoy during her treatment really spurred her on. She said that when she rode a horse it made her feel normal again. The charity now helps other seriously ill people and their families by giving them truly memorable equine experiences.

Louise Kittle, Editor-in-Chief of PONY Magazine says, “We’re honoured to be working with Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity on this issue. At PONY Magazine the whole team are riders, and we really understand the therapeutic value of being around horses. This promotion is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity and the amazing work they do in giving families affected by serious illness the chance to enjoy a special horsey moment at a time when the world seems quite bleak.”

Rachel Francis, Hannah’s Mum, says, “Horses were Hannah’s life and from a very early age she was hooked. Hannah lived to ride and when she was very poorly, horses gave her hope and put a smile on her face every single day. Thank you, PONY magazine, Hannah would love that you are supporting her Charity and I cannot thank you enough for helping us to keep her memory alive.”

To find out more, pick up a copy of April’s PONY Magazine and don’t forget that the magazine will donate 5p from every copy sold to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, or head to willberrywonderpony.org/