By Colleen Cheechalk | Program Director and Founder
It's hard to believe that it has been almost a year since we first launched our project on GlobalGiving.org, it's been a long road and much hard work has gone into it, but WOW it has been a wonderful experience!
Since our last update we have continued to finish the therapy room and insulation, walls and a heater will be installed this month, just in time for cold weather. We have also continued to improve the classroom and arena areas so that we can work outdoors as much as possible.
Sadly, we said goodbye to our beloved Simon on October 18. Simon arrived on New Year's Eve 2011...just hours before the deadline of the GlobalGiving.org Open Challenge. We were still a few donors short right up to the wire, and within minutes of his arrival here on our farm we had not only reached...but surpassed the needed number of donors and donations. I remember sitting down on the ground and just sobbing, with a giant red horse looking at me at like I had lost my mind. He grew to understand my personality and the fact that I wear my heart on my sleeve, and became my best friend, he was adored by everyone who met him. He had a check up the day before and was given a clean bill of health, but the next day, within a span of 35 minutes, he somehow dislocated/broke his shoulder. This is a catastrophic injury for a horse and, sadly, one that is very common. He was laid to rest next to my beautiful Paco and his memorial garden is already being created. We miss him so very, very much.
We have grown so much since New Years Eve. We now serve nearly 50 individuals each week, 40 weeks of the year. We serve more than 75 during various outreach programs. We have not only reached, but surpassed our goal of Providing Equine Therapies for 100 Children in Need. And we were able to do it because of you.
As we wind down a year of many successes, we are reminded of how grateful we are to each and every one of you for your support of our program. As we grow, we hope we can continue to count on you to cheer us on and celebrate our students victories both in the arena, and in their every day lives.
Sincerely,
Colleen Cheechalk
Program Director and Founder
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