A retired horse has helped saddle more than £14,000 for the fight against cancer.
JD’s El Diablo was taken out of retirement by his owner Kim Pearson to take part in Cancer Research UK’s first ever Ride for Research.
Kim, 36, of Thornton, took part in the challenge in honour of a close friend who has incurable cancer.
As part of a group of 50 riders who trekked more than 10 miles through the Pentland Hills, she and her horse, also known as Billy, collected more than £300 in sponsorship.
Kim stopped carriage-driving with Billy, 16, two years ago but brought him back into action to train for the charity challenge.
She said: “It was an amazing experience and great to see the equestrian community come together to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.
“The last time I rode a horse for three hours solid, I was in pony club!”
Her friend Mairi was given the all clear after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 30 but has recently been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
Kim, community manager at Evans Easyspace in John Smith Business Park, said: “All through her treatment, which included a single mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Mairi continued to be the amazing, strong and brave person I know.
“She raised money to enhance the waiting room in the hospital so that future cancer sufferers and the people in their lives would have somewhere peaceful, calm and comfortable to spend time in.
“She got the all clear in 2012 and went on to meet the love of her life and get married.”
However, Kim said when a persistent shoulder ache was investigated medics found secondary breast cancer and spots on Mairi’s spine, right hip, liver and lungs.
She said: “This time the cancer is incurable and Mairi faces a life of more chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“That’s why I set out to raise money to help kick cancer’s butt.”
The Pentland Hills ride was the biggest in the country for Ride for Research 2016.
Although participants were soaked on the final leg Kim said it was worth every second and all the bumps and bruises to help toward the Ride for Research national total.