Pay it forward, what a great name for a horse.
What an even better way to help an association, which gives special needs students an opportunity to ride horses.
Alexandra Mertens, chose to donate a $500 Safeway gift card to the Foothills Therapeutic Riding Association on Sept. 10 through the Sobeys-Safeway Kids Pay it Forward initiative.
“I love the horses and love riding horses,” said Mertens, who has cerebral palsy. “(Riding a horse) makes me feel relaxed and happy. Whenever I have a stressful day, it always helps me to go over and see a horse.”
She said she also has developed a good relationship with the volunteers at the therapeutic riding association.
The efforts of Okotoks Safeway and Mertens will help take off some of the stress from the organizers with the therapeutic association.
Okotoks Safeway raised $1,656 for the association through a hot dog and ice cream sales through a Sobeys-Safeway Canada 150th birthday initiative.
“That was the third largest amount (in the area),” Pauline Staples, Okotoks Safeway management-trainee. “That was amazing considering the two stores that beat us were two of the biggest in the city.”
Okotoks Safeway was also given a $500 gift card to which a member of the selected charity, in this case the therapeutic program, could give to any charity of his or her choice as part of the Kids Pay It Forward initiative.
Mertens didn’t think twice about where she wanted the gift card to go. In fact, she wrote a story explaining why the therapeutic association is so important to her.
“Riding horses makes me feel like I can do anything I want to,” Mertens said in an interview. “One day, I want to make it to the Paralympics Equestrian and that’s because of Foothills therapeutic riding.”
The association provides riding lessons for special needs students. It not only helps the young people with balance and muscle control, but also their self-esteem.
With the addition of Mertens’ donation of $500, it means the therapeutic association will receive $2,156.
“We have approximately 60 volunteers and this will help provide snacks for them,” said association spokeswoman Maureen Keith. “It means so much to have her (Alex) choose us.”
The association holds two sessions a year for special needs students at the Okotoks Agriculture Society Arena. Referrals are sent out to Foothills area schools requesting participants.
For more information go to foothillstherapeuticriding.com
