No rider at Tattersalls International H.T. got a bigger cheer — or wore a bigger smile — than Hannah Francis, who performed the one- and two-star dressage test rides on her mare Mavis.
Watching this 18-year-old British eventer glide around the ring, her delight in doing so written all over her face, you wouldn’t know what a devastating battle she is up against. Last May Hannah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer called osteosarcomo and has been brave in her fight against it, publicly chronicling her journey via social media and inspiring people around the world to donate to cancer research and charities.
WOW. We’ve done it. Thank you @Tatts2016 for everything and everyone else that’s made it happen! #sochuffed pic.twitter.com/nU9wWXjFKG
— willberrywonderpony (@chiefchemopony) June 1, 2016
The international eventing community has rallied around Hannah and her trusty sidekick Willberry Wonder Pony, who recently hitched a ride around Badminton cross country with cancer survivor Ben Hobday.
Willberry’s dream came true today round @bhorsetrials all thanks to the wonder cob @Mr_Mulry and legend @BenHobday! pic.twitter.com/EZDSZyNekh
— willberrywonderpony (@chiefchemopony) May 7, 2016
Even more recently, in an effort to assuage a fear Hannah expressed on Facebook that she may be forgotten, hundreds of supporters took to social media with images of them riding accompanied by an #inspiredbyhannah hashtag.
There are many ways to support Hannah and her mission — we encourage you to learn more by visiting her website here.
We here at EN are, truly, #inspiredbyhannah. Go Hannah. Go Eventing!
Tattersalls Hannah Francis photo gallery, courtesy of Jack Lyons Media.