“Our childhood cancer journey began on September 23, 2015, when our 7 year old daughter, Madeline (Maddie), was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. Over the course of the past 19 months we have been in awe of the strength of our little girl. We could not be more proud of our little warrior and her very strong and supportive sisters; Abby (11 years old) and Isabelle (6 years old). Maddie has led us through this journey with grace, strength, bravery and courage. Along the way our family has been inspired by the kindness of others, like our friends at Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Through the generosity of supporters, our family has been blessed to receive support from Ivy Hill. Last summer, we were privileged to be the recipients of a grant, allowing Maddie and her sisters to attend Ride Astride for Hope Summer Camp.
Our daughters fully enjoyed attending summer camp at Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center. They quickly developed an emotional bond with the horses. They were not only given opportunities to experience horseback riding, they were also taught to care for the horses by grooming and feeding them. This was beneficial to our daughters because it created a situation in which they were responsible for caring for and learning about horses. During this time, Maddie had been primarily the one being cared for, and I am grateful that she had the opportunity to take care of the horses she loves. Additionally, it has increased the self-esteem of all three girls and given them an opportunity to develop skills of independence and an increased sense of responsibility.
Overall, this program has been very beneficial to our family. Our daughters look forward to this special week. We are so grateful that all three girls have had the opportunity to experience Ride Astride for Hope Summer Camp, as it has allowed them to bond and enjoy a positive experience together. I know that Abby, Maddie and Isabelle will forever have a love of riding as a result of this program.
We are so grateful that there are programs that support families, like ours, struggling with the affects of childhood cancer. We are forever grateful that our family was touched by Ivy Hill and are honored to be the recipients of a gift that exemplifies such extreme generosity and kindness. We are forever grateful. ”