Emma Webb will get her latest fundraising challenge underway today (Saturday 28 September) when she starts her ‘Hack to HOYS’ walk in memory of her teenage daughter Brodie, who died by suicide four years ago.
Emma will walk the 140 miles from Newport in South Wales to Birmingham while pulling Miles, an 80kg life-size resin horse on wheels.
The aim of the walk is to raise money for two charities: Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide and Riders Minds.
Emma’s daughter, Brodie, a talented rider, took her own life in 2020 at the age of 16.
“She was my purpose for living. As a mum of an only child, we were so close. I have all this love inside of me but nowhere for it to go,” said Emma.
“When you lose the most important thing in your life you can either give up or go on. This is a positive way for me to channel that love and make a difference.
“It means the world to me to raise as much awareness as I can.”
Support from Prince William
‘Hack to HOYS’ will be the third challenge Emma has undertaken.
For her first, in 2021, she walked 285 miles — a mile for each life lost to suicide in Wales the previous year.
Emma Webb at the end of her epic journey in memory of her daughter at The London International Horse Show at ExCel in London on the 12 December 2023
Last year, Emma pulled Miles a total of 160 miles from the David Broome Event Centre in Chepstow to the ExCeL London, arriving in time for the start of the London International Horse Show.
During the challenge, Emma was joined by Prince William (see main image, above) who helped her to pull Miles for around 25 minutes.
Emma has already raised over £60,000 and is hoping this challenge will see her top the £100,000 barrier.
The route will pass through Bristol, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Evesham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Coventry.
The aim is to reach Birmingham NEC on Tuesday 8 October, the day before Horse of the Year Show kicks off.
Decorated horseshoes
Emma will be wearing a tracker so people can follow her progress.
“Although it’ll be a little bit more hilly this time, our route will be mainly roads and we’ll be more visible. The rural paths caused a few problems last time and we’ve learned from that,” said Emma.
Emma has made hundreds of decorated horseshoes to leave along the route. Each horseshoe contains a QR code linking to the DoItForBrodie website, which contains information on where to obtain help for those struggling with mental health issues.
“Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK and every year around 200 teenagers take their own lives.
“It isn’t easy to start a conversation about suicide, but we must talk openly with our children and young people and reassure them that they are not alone and that help and support is available,” said Emma.
The Hack to HOYS route planner and live tracker can be found here.
