Welcome Back to our Newsletter!

Summer is in the air and it is time to get back into the saddle at Lift Me Up! We are pleased to announce that we will be taking a few names off of our waiting list as we welcome new riders into our program this summer.

Although most or our staff takes a winter break, we are grateful for Mary Sitnik and Flo Dougherty who care for the horses regardless of the time and weather. Mary continues to coordinate vet calls, farrier visits, training, and daily care of Sir Ecktor, Finn, and Valentine. Her love and attention for our horses has made a huge difference on their well-being and ability to perform their jobs for the riding program. We thank you, Mary, for your devotion to our stock.

Flo continues to answer the phone, pay the bills, and with the help of her husband, Harry; coordinates the completion of all federal, state, and local tax forms. It is no secret that we would not exist without them!

CONGRATULATIONS NEW INSTRUCTORS!

Lift me Up! is delighted to announce that all of our interns successfully completed the NARHA certification program for therapeutic riding instructors. Each candidate has been mentored by Lift Me Up! instructors and therapists for a year or more, and attended a certification workshop in April. The certification process developed by NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped) requires candidates to pass a riding test, written exam, and teaching test. This registration process helps to ensure that instructors have achieved a level of competency in the areas of equine assisted activities and therapy. We appreciate all the time, effort, and financial investment our candidates have made towards this achievement, and are very fortunate to have this wonderful pool of talent as part of LIFT ME UP!

Congratulations to our newly Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors:
      Kristin Halizak-Eddy
      Barbara Hattwick
      Michelle Humphrey
      Connie Kohler
      Pam Nolan
      Pam McDorman (recertifiction)

Many thanks to Mary Jo Beckman, NARHA Advanced Instructor for encouraging the candidates along this road.

THANK YOU GREAT FALLS NEWCOMER’S

Our good friends, the Newcomer’s of Great Falls, a local philantrophic club, have once again provided generous and needed funding to our program. This year has proven to be our most challenging financially due to unusually high vet costs and a national decline in contributions. However, the members of the Newcomer’s Club graciously donated $25,000 to our program. In addition to funds, this active civic group also extends a hand by volunteering with our program and our riders. We extend a very sincere thanks for your support and friendship over the years.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR OUR NEW PONY!

Thanks to the generosity of Helen Lerner and the National Council of JewishWomen, we have purchased a new therapy horse. This organization has donated $6,500 over the past two years. Come and meet our new Norwegian Fjord pony, "Finn." He’s quite the character!

Words cannot adequately express the thanks we extend to All of the generous donors to LIFT ME UP! this year:

• Newcomer’s Club of Great Falls
• National Council of Jewish Women
• Commonwealth Consulting
• Women of St. Barnabus
• Goldberg Family
• Family of Mason Berry
• Brenda Zilk
• Christoferson Family
• Corey Family

Due to your generosity, we continue to grow and to provide a quality service. We hope someday that we can grow enough to absorb the 65 adults and children on our waiting list! Therapeutic riding and Hippotherapy continue to gain acceptance and respect within the medical and mental health fields. As a result, it has become a highly recommended form of therapy and exercise. We cannot exist without the support of the community, and we extend our sincere gratitude for believing in us and our mission.

THANKS FOR LENDING A HAND

Young people from the Lindhaven United Methodist Church in Lindhaven, Florida, and St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Panama City, Fla. came to LIFT ME UP! on March 25th to offer their services. The 27 youths along with their youth ministers spent the day painting fences for LIFT ME UP! as part of a trip to Washington. Their mission was to offer services to various groups in this area in addition to visiting the sights. Arriving at 9 am, they painted until roughly 2 pm After a trip to Lake Fairfax for cleaning up and showering; they headed out to great falls park, then returned to their host church in Alexandria. They were able to paint the entire arena to help us keep the farm looking bright. Neil Magee, Youth Pastor of Lindhaven, said he called various churches in the area to ask what organizations might need some volunteers. In addition to serving at soup kitchens, Beth Posey of Calvary Methodist Church in Alex, suggested LIFT ME UP! and made the initial contact. We are grateful for their help!

CONGRATULATIONS, COLLEEN DAYTON!

Colleen Dayton received the Outstanding Character Award for Teenagers from the McLean Citizens Association. Colleen was nominated for her years of service to LIFT ME UP! Colleen has worked as a leader and sidewalker for several of our sessions. All of the instructors which she has worked for have praised her for her willing attitude, reliability, and horse skills. In addition to her direct support of our therapeutic riding sessions, Colleen has volunteered at several fund-raisers for the program as well. We are indebted to Colleen for her dedication to LIFT ME UP! and take great pride in her recognition as an outstanding teenager. We couldn’t agree more!

Colleen will be a senior at Langley next year and aspires to go to medical school. This summer she has been selected by the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine to be a student intern at Berkley Medical Center.

FIFTEENTH ANNUAL RIDE-A-THON

A crystal blue sky and near-perfect temperatures greeted the eleven riders who participated in our 15th Annual Ride-a-Thon on June 10, 2002.
Many thanks to Georgia Corey, event coordinator and to Southdown Farm for graciously opening up their beautiful community for this event. Paul Bove, who has marked the trails for us for many years, was awarded a "Master Trailblazer" plaque as a tribute for his time and effort over the years. Mary Sitnik brought in over $700 worth of pledges and was the winner of the gift certificate donated by THE SADDLERY OF GREAT FALLS. We thank Penny Paez for her continued support for this event. A HUGE thank you is extended to our sponsors: The Berry Family, Corey Family, Commonwealth Consulting, Broad Run Vet, Riggs Bank, Martin E. Brown, CPA, INOVA,The Carlisle Collection, Blue Ridge Partners, The Dougherty Family, and Van Patten Crossing Farm.

Virginia is For Horse Lovers
"Coming Full Circle"
NARHA Annual Meeting and Conference
November 18 -24, 2002 Westfields Marriott
Conference and Resort

Plan now to join, attend, and volunteer at this exciting and educational event! Over 600 therapeutic riding enthusiasts will be coming to Northern Virginia to learn and celebrate therapeutic riding. This week is full of events and has something for everyone - riders, parents, volunteers, instructors, administrators, and horse lovers of every size. There will be a celebration of our heritage on Wednesday evening with a Colonial Fife and Drum Corps and a bellchime concert performed by eleven youths and adults with developmental disabilities. Pre-conference workshops on a variety of subjects and special interest forums are held on Thursday. Friday will feature a multi-track learning experience. Papers will be presented by experts in the fields of Equine Facilitated Mental Health, Hippotherapy, Updates on Research, Teaching techniques, Administration and Fund raising.

The "Horse Fair" is scheduled for Saturday at beautiful Morven Park. The Loudon County Therapeutic Riding Program operates at this lovely facility in Leesburg. There will be opportunities to visit the Mansion and the Museum of the Carriage. The nationally renowned Marion Dupont Equine Medical Center will be open for tours, and hands-on learning experiences will be offered all day.

One of the highlights of the event is the Awards Banquet held on Saturday evening. This is a "dress-up affair" and all the horse folks get scrubbed up pretty good! This evening provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the special individuals who have been the backbone of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Assoc.

Awards are given to the Regional and National Volunteers of the Year, Horse of the Year, Adult Rider of the Year, and many more.

Many volunteers are needed to make this a conference to remember. Please contact Colleen Zanin if you would like to volunteer on one of the committees: Hospitality, Silent Auction, Speaker’s Moderator, Banquet, Registration Desk, or Merchandise Booth. You will never meet more fun and interesting folks!