NOVICE rider Audrey Scott-Hopkins is taking on the challenge of competing in one of the largest UK sponsored horse rides in honour of her husband, who is battling cancer.

Mrs Scott-Hopkins, 58, from Crow Hill, Ringwood, will be taking part in the Horses for Heroes ride on July 10 at Windsor Great Park finishing at Ascot Racecourse on a race day.

The ride, in aid of force’s charity Help for Heroes, aims to see 2010 riders unite with the aim of raising £1million for the charity.

Many of the riders raking part will be experienced equestrian horsemen and women, including some of the UK’s top riders.

Mrs Scott-Hopkins is trying to hone her riding skills in order to show her support for the charity and for her husband.

Michael Scott-Hopkins has recently retired, after spending 38 years in the Army serving with the Grenadier Guards and the Army Air Corps.

A keen rider, he still works for the Army as a civil servant but was dealt a devastating blow in November when doctors discovered that the bowel cancer the couple thought he had successfully beaten two years ago, had spread to his lungs.

Six years ago, Audrey took on the challenge of re-learning to ride after 37 years out of the saddle so she could exercise her husband’s horse, Rafferty, when he was at work.

As a result Michael bought Audrey her own horse, Church Park Victor.

Since her husband became unwell, Audrey has been taking riding lessons so that she can take up the challenge to ride Victor on July 10.

Audrey said: “I have been an Army wife for all of my adult life and followed my husband around the world for a great many years. I have seen, heard and experienced the most extraordinary courage within the services community and had my heart strings pulled on many occasions by the lives led by our forces personnel after they have been injured and returned home to an uncertain future.

“Help for Heroes is a wonderful charity which raises funds to make our injured servicemen and women's future brighter, happier and more fulfilled.

“My husband has been so very brave throughout this illness and he continues to show so much courage. I am a novice rider, so this will be a very big challenge for me but I wanted to show him just how very proud I am of the strength of character that he is showing towards this disease by taking part in the Horses for Heroes sponsored ride on his behalf.”

To support Audrey, you can donate money via her Just Giving site at: www.justgiving.com/Audrey-Scott-Hopkins.

To ride with Audrey at Horses for Heroes, log onto www.horses4heroes.co.uk and register by March 31.