EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program hosted its 11th Annual 5k Cross Country Run, 1-Mile Run with the Hounds, and 1/2 Mile Pony Run for the Kids on Saturday, May 11, 2013. With one of the only cross country courses in Hampton Roads, this event continues to grow in notoriety and participation—with a record sell-out crowd of 620 registrants! The event raised more than $40,000 to support our organization’s mission to provide equine assisted activities to individuals with disabilities in Southeast Virginia and Northern North Carolina.

“This year was by far the biggest and the best to date! We were delighted to have the support of so many in the community as we celebrated the 11th anniversary of this very special event,” commented Jill Haag, Executive Director.

EQUI-KIDS is proud to recognize presenting sponsor, Monarch Bank, as well as event sponsors Capital Group Companies, Endurance IT Services, Beach Commercial Finance, Watson Electrical, HAV, Inc., Southern Auto Group, USA Discounters, Body Logic, Embrace Home Loans, STIHL, Sentara, Bon Secours InMotion Physical Therapy, RICOH, CMR Promotions, Dominion Capital Partners, & Cheralyn Whetsone with The Real Estate Group.

This signature event fundraiser supports EQUI-KIDS’ mission to provide, promote and support equine assisted activities for individuals who have mental, physical, emotional, social or learning disabling conditions; giving special needs riders the opportunity to experience a world free from disability.

Wounded service members often come home to lives that are greatly different from the lives they led prior to an injury. Not only are they recuperating physically, but also emotionally. EQUI-VETS was created to assist in physical and mental healing through mounted and ground activities to help service men and women reconnect to their families and their lives. In honor of the service and sacrifices made by our military personnel, the EQUI-VETS program is offered at no cost to participants.

“The significant investment to support this program is tremendously appreciated and greatly needed to ensure the further expansion of EQUI-VETS this year,” commented Executive Director Jill Haag. “This generous support for the Hampton Roads military community shows PRA’s dedication and commitment to helping veterans. Without PRA’s assistance, the opportunity for wounded service men and women to participate in the EQUI-VETS Service Program would not be possible.”

Kevin Stevenson, executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer for PRA, and current board member of EQUI-KIDS, commented, “Living and working in the Hampton Roads area, we are reminded every day of the importance of U.S. military personnel. Through support of the EQUI-VETS program, PRA is honored to be able to give back to injured military members who have given so much to our country.”

Founded in 2010, the growth of the program continues to multiply. In 2012, services were provided to 17 individuals – and in 2013 the organization anticipates providing service to more than 50.

WHEN:
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013
1/2 Mile Pony Run begins at 8:00AM
5k Cross Country Run begins at 8:20AM
1-Mile Run with the Hounds begins at 9:30AM

WHERE:
EQUI-KIDS Facility
2626 Heritage Park Drive
Virginia Beach VA 23456

This signature event fundraiser presented by Monarch Bank, supports EQUI-KIDS’ mission to provide, promote and support equine assisted activities for individuals who have mental, physical, emotional, social or learning disabling conditions; giving special needs riders the opportunity to experience a world free from disability. WVEC 13News Daybreak Anchor, Vanessa Coria, is the official event emcee.

Entry fees start at $25 for early registration to participate in the 5k Cross Country Run and 1-Mile Run with the Hounds, and the Pony Run for the Kids is just $10 per participant. A post party will follow and awards will be given for each run category. The event takes place at EQUI-KIDS’ facility located at 2626 Heritage Park Drive in Virginia Beach. Space is limited. Runners can sign up on ACTIVE.COM and search for “EQUI-KIDS” to register online, or go to www.equikids.org.

Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms presents the award to EQUI-VETS’ Program Director Kathy Chitwood and MSgt. Brown Cornwell, USAF. MSgt. Cornwell was the first participant in EQUI-VETS Service Program.

Nominations included groups that help individuals with disabilities through equine therapy, rescue groups that rehabilitate abandoned and abused horses, equine retirement and sanctuary groups, and even equestrian exhibition teams for financially disadvantaged youth.

Over 3,000 Facebook fans submitted nominations representing 450 groups from around the country. 20 charities were selected by Triple Crown Nutrition for their dedication to equine related outreach – and EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program was among the honorees.

“We are tremendously grateful to everyone who voted for us during the contest. The Hampton Roads community is always extremely supportive of our mission, and we are incredibly thankful for Triple Crown Nutrition’s generosity to support so many worthy equine charities.” commented EQUI-KIDS Executive Director, Jill Haag.

Triple Crown Nutrition’s charitable gift will be used to support therapeutic riding lessons for individuals with disabilities, enabling EQUI-KIDS to serve nearly 100 riders each week.

We were honored to have Mayor Will Sessoms in attendance, along with two very special guests who represented our inspirational riders – Ms. Ivy Kennedy on behalf of EQUI-KIDS, and Master Sergeant Brown Cornwell on behalf of our EQUI-VETS Service Program. Below is Brown’s story, in his own words, that he shared with our guests:

“Over 6 ½ years ago my life was changed forever. I was almost killed in a high voltage electrical accident while serving overseas. Besides the many obvious physical injuries one sustains in such an incident, the hardest thing I had to deal with was the emotional torment my mind would put me through on a daily basis. I could no longer do my job, I could not watch movies with my family if that movie had electrical accidents or death in it, and I could not even walk near ground mounted electrical equipment on the street.

I have to admit I was skeptical, but once I entered the program and started to see the affects it was having on my life and my dreams, I was whole heartedly sold. I went from 25-35 dreams a month down to 10-12. I was sleeping again, I didn’t dread night time or seeing my bed. The tension and frustration in our home seemed to disappear and everyone was enjoying each other again. I could never thank Sadie, Mickey, Gator, Kathy and the whole EQUI-VETS program enough. They gave us our life back.”

Former WAVY-TV 10 anchor, Kerry Furey, was the emcee for the evening. Guests enjoyed casino tables, an exceptional dinner buffet by Primo Ristorante, and great music by local band, Butter. Featuring a phenomenal silent and live auction, guest bids topped $30,000 in auction proceeds for the evening.

EQUI-KIDS is honored to have the support of presenting sponsor, GTI Systems, Inc., as well as sponsors Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Hall Automotive, Monarch Mortgage, HAV Inc., HBD Build, Inc., The Providence Group, AGI, Atlantic Commercial Real Estate, B.M. Staunton Foundation, Body Logic, Dominion Capital Partners, Endurance IT Services, Farm Bureau Live Premium Seats, Paul P – Svedka-Wild Turkey, Philleo and Holladay Wealth Management Group, E&J Gallo Wines, Optima, SunTrust Bank, The Goddard School, The Real Estate Group, and Tidewater Home Funding.

In 2007, Arnhold was instrumental in donating 92 acres of Heritage Park Development in Virginia Beach, valued at $2.7 million, to Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Program. Over the years, Arnhold has contributed to the program by procuring in-kind donations for its $5.5 million capital campaign, completed in February. Arnhold talks with Inside Business about his involvement with the program and his continued efforts to bring awareness to its endeavors.

Read the full article – Inside Business

“The team members at the DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach selected EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program as our quarterly charity. Through raffles, ice cream socials, balloon pops, smoothie sales and other fund raising activities, the staff made donations to support this incredible program. Each employee was involved in the fundraising efforts, and we are proud to have a small part in the activities that enhance the development of special needs children,” states Melanie Bowman, General Manager.

EQUI-KIDS is able to provide lessons year round to students – thanks to employees of local businesses like DoubleTree.

“We are very grateful to be selected as a DoubleTree quarterly charity and for their support of EQUI-KIDS,” states Jill Haag, EQUI-KIDS’ Executive Director. “It is only through community partnerships like these that our special needs programs are possible.”

Pictured from left to right: Melanie Bowman, Mark Hoshak, EQUI-KIDS Horse CoCo, Jill Haag, Executive Director of EQUI-KIDS, and Jessica Vanhoy.