Published: Sunday, 28th June, 2009 12:28pm

Pony joins charity street collection

by Lauren Everitt

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VOLUNTEERS will be hitting the streets to collect loose change for a group which helps the disabled.

Members of Windsor and Ascot Driving Group for the Disabled are appealing to the Ascot community to keep an eye out for collectors and their Shetland pony, Casper, all day on Saturday, July 4.

In partnership with Alexandra Rose Charities, the volunteers will be in Ascot High Street to raise vital funds to keep the group up and running.

Group organiser Sally Merrick said: 'Despite the economic gloom it is heartening to see that people are supporting charitable organisations as much as they have ever been.

'We rely heavily on individual contributions and are always touched by the words of support that we receive as people drop coins into our collection tins.

'As funding belts tighten we need to be more pro-active than ever before.' The team will be hanging out Alexandra Rose Charities roses and badges with Casper emblazoned on them to help raise awareness of the hard work that goes into ensuring the group can keep delivering its work and collecting much-needed donations.

Alexandra Rose works with other charities and community organisations across the country to help them raise money.

More than 250 groups benefit from the organisation"s help, national profile and administration support.

Margaret Stock, national director of Alexandra Rose, said: 'We are delighted to be working with the Windsor and Ascot Driving Group and wish them all the very best.

'Our fundraising work at Alexandra Rose is on

going, and the team is continually looking for charity partners to support.

'We are encouraging all non-profit organisations to contact us and discuss how we can work together in the future.'