On Thursday October 25, 2012, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Rainier Therapeutic Riding will host  Heroes, Horses and Hope First Annual Dinner & Auction event at the Dryer Masonic Center (306 S 134th St. in Parkland) to benefit local, wounded service members. The doors open at 5 p.m. for a silent auction.  The cost of the event is $50 per person.

Participate and get a wonderful dinner, a celebration of this year’s programs and live and silent auctions. Tickets can be purchased here online, or in person at any RTR event. You can call 360-704-9895 for more information.

For more information on sponsoring this event or donating an item for the auction please contact Becki McGinnis at bekkalee@msn.com or Elisia Mutter at emmutter@gmail.com

Rainier Therapeutic Riding is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit, if you can’t attend this year’s event, you can still support RTR’s life-changing programs with your tax-deductible donation.

Rainier Therapeutic Riding of Yelm, WA, provides a specially created horsemanship program to wounded military personnel at no cost to the participant or the military. They serve 48 soldiers weekly, with over 50 active volunteers, 5 PATH Intl. certified instructors, along with 14 horses in their therapy herd.

They work directly with medical teams attached to the Army Warrior Transition Battalion and Air Force Medical Flight at Joint Base Lewis McChord as well as American Lake division of the VA to select active duty soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as a host of other physical and emotional injuries. 

The programs helps bring the “spark” back into their eyes as well as the smiles to their faces. Over 30% of soldiers returning home from overseas are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injuries. The shocking reality is that service members are twice as likely to commit suicide as the general public. 

Horses have a unique ability to help these heroes heal. This program helps riders

•Increase core body strength

•Improve balance

•Sharpen spatial and cognitive awareness

•Help with independence and social skills

•Develop gross and fine motor skills

•Exercise memory and sequencing abilities