 |
     |
|
NARHA Premier Accredited Center |
|
|
Extraordinary Strides • Transforming Lives • Capital Campaign
In this article:
A History of Transforming Lives
Making Strides through Therapeutic Riding
The Need for a New Home
Campaign: Extraordinary Strides • Transforming
Lives
The Olerud Story
Volunteer Leadership
How You Can Help
Links to other campaign information:
Case Prospectus
Key Messages
Testimonial from John & Kelly Olerud
Testimonial from Dr. Stephen Glass
Testimonial from Ken Block
Testimonial from Sally Wright
Announcement of property purchase in January
2008
Pledge Form
A History of Transforming Lives
Founded in 1976, Little Bit Therapeutic
Riding Center is a nationally accredited NARHA Center that has grown
to become an industry leader and one of the largest full-time therapeutic
horseback riding programs in the United States offering adaptive riding
and Hippotherapy.
From helping a child with cerebral palsy take her first steps to enriching the communication skills of a teenager with autism to providing a sense of independence and increased confidence to an adult with multiple sclerosis, Little Bit makes a big difference in hundreds of our neighbors' lives.
Making Strides through Therapeutic Riding
Little Bit's flagship programs-Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy-both utilize the unique qualities of the horse to affect positive change in the bodies, health, and spirits of children and adults with disabilities.
These programs provide life-changing physical benefits such as strengthening muscles, preventing bone weakness and joint dislocation, improving balance and enhancing hand/eye coordination. These benefits improve a rider's overall health, which in turn, can increase life expectancy.
They also ripple into other aspects of daily living, promoting confidence and independence, improving communication skills and peer interaction, enhancing concentration and memory, stimulating problem-solving, and providing achievable goals.
The Need for a New Home
Each
week, Little Bit provides more than 250 children and adults with disabilities
therapeutic horseback riding sessions with the help of over 350 volunteers.
This incredible success has also led to our greatest challenge; a wait
that extends up to two years for over 200 additional children and adults
with disabilities. Studies show that early intervention in children
with disabilities is critical to helping them reach developmental milestones
such as walking or speaking, making this wait particularly difficult
for our youngest potential riders. Unfortunately, the current facility
in Woodinville is too small to meet this growing demand - with limited
stable, arena, exercise and training spaces.
Campaign: Extraordinary Strides • Transforming Lives
In 2005, the Board of Directors launched the quiet phase of an $11 million capital campaign to locate and secure an appropriate piece of property with the goal of serving more riders. After a thorough search and because of the support of several generous lead donors, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of Simpatico Stables in Redmond.
This larger facility will double capacity, allowing Little Bit to serve up to 525 riders per week, dramatically reducing waiting times to less than six months. This project will also enable Little Bit to significantly expand its educational programming, train more industry professionals to a higher standard of excellence, and will transform it into the largest therapeutic riding center in the country.
Situated on picturesque Bear Creek, the property, located at 106th Street and Avondale Road is an expansive, quiet place for horses and humans with many existing features including a large barn, extensive arena, pasture areas and riding trails. However, additional renovation and construction is needed to prepare the property for use by riders, volunteers, instructors and horses. Little Bit still needs to construct the following facilities:
Once the renovations and additions are complete, anticipated in 2011, Little Bit will work to gently transition the riders and the therapy herd to the new facility, ensuring a minimum of disruption to rider progress and horse well-being.
The Olerud Story
In the summer of 2000, we returned to the Seattle area after John was signed to play for the Mariners. We couldn't have been in a better place - both returning home and expecting our second child. However, it slowly became clear that something may be wrong. In August of 2000, our fears were realized. Although we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, her troubles began instantly upon birth. Jordan experienced major complications. The first two years were a struggle; she spent a lot of time at the hospital. Feeding tubes, respiratory issues and constant concern over her fragile state were issues we lived with daily.
We found Little Bit in 2003, through a recommendation from the Kindering Center. The results experienced by so many of their riders were extremely promising, and we wanted to try it for Jordan. As a rider myself, I understood right away how beneficial this therapy could be. Up to that point, Jordan had faced so many obstacles. She had severe sensory issues, she wasn't sitting up, and she wasn't crawling. Her official diagnosis is a chromosome abnormality that affects both her 5th and 2nd chromosomes. This combination of deficiencies is extremely rare. In fact, Jordan is currently the only known case of its kind. So approaching her disability has been a challenge.
In 2003, Jordan began therapy with Physical Therapist Debra Peet-Walker at Little Bit. Then something amazing happened. By her third birthday she started sitting up on her own. Her sensory issues were relaxing and the strength in her core just took off! John and I saw immediately the benefits of this treatment. Her newly found strength also gave rise to a newly found confidence. For a girl who was never able to do anything herself, who always needed assistance, suddenly she could sit atop a 1,200 pound horse independently. Riding at Little Bit has given our daughter a sense of empowerment that could not have been achieved any other way.
We know that Little Bit is a big part of the reason Jordan is walking now. Of all the therapies that we involve our daughter in, Little Bit is the one that we never want to miss. Working with the staff and volunteers has been a huge blessing for Jordan and our entire family.
Volunteer Leadership: Capital Campaign Cabinet
Volunteers are integral to Little Bit, from the Board of Directors to the more than 400 individuals who work with riders and horses each year. Little Bit is extremely grateful to those special people who have stepped up to help with this special campaign. Pictured at right are Mike & Phyllis Dunmire with the campaign progress thermometer - at $7.6 million at the time of the launch party.
John & Kelly Olerud, Co-Chairs
Mike & Phyllis Dunmire, Honorary Co-Chairs
Kenneth Block
Dr. Stephen T. Glass
Ted Herb
Linda Kelleran
Nancy Lobisser
David O'Brien
Kate Roper
Geoff Swanson
Tracey Trewin
Morgan Wheaton
Sally Wright
How You Can Help
For more information, including naming opportunities, please contact Kathy Alm, Executive Director, at 425-882-1554 or email.
About the Center | Riders | Volunteers & Contributors | Privacy Policy | Home | E-mail Us
Non-profit
information available through |
|
