News: Sports

A dinner to raise money for scholarships for students in the HeRD (Horses for Riders with Disabilities) Therapeutic Riding Program at Woodlands Camp became a strong testament to the generosity of people and the Christmas spirit.

With a dinner scheduled for the week before Christmas, attendance can be uncertain. But 96 students, volunteers, family members and guests turned out recently for the HeRD dinner.

The HeRD program at Woodlands Camp benefited from a fund-raising dinner in December.

Students and volunteers were seated throughout the hall, so everyone had a chance to hear about the program first-hand. A three-course meal was prepared by Woodland Chef Don Crowe and a crew of volunteers. Ron Hill and Darrel "Butch" Grossnickle provided live country music. A basket of ice cream toppings made by volunteer Shirl Lewis was raffled off, and porcelain horse statues and horse-drawn wagon rides went to door-prize winners.

Thrivent Fund for Lutherans pledged $500 in matching funds for the event, and those funds - along with proceeds from the dinner and raffle - brought in enough money to put seven students through a therapeutic riding session. In addition, the program received enough pledges to purchase needed equipment. The big surprise of the evening was a $5,000 check from Sylvia DeSantis, bringing the total raised after expenses to $6,500.

The staff, students, volunteers and families of HeRD extend a big thank-you to everyone who made the dinner a success.

For information about the program, call Patricia Fulton, director, at 407-469-2932. Anyone interested in volunteering should plan to attend an orientation on either Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. or Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Woodlands Camp.

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