This month, Black Press Media has teamed up with and BraveFace to help grant wishes, . Here鈥檚 one wish that was granted through the Make-A-Wish B.C. and Yukon chapter鈥�
鈥淚 wish to have a horse riding gear shopping spree鈥� 鈥� January 2017
Sometimes the most deserving people are the last to accept help or an exciting opportunity for fear of taking it away from others. Hillary, 17, was one of them.
Hillary knew all about about The Make-A-Wish Foundation. She knew, as a child living with Cystic Fibrosis that she qualified for a wish. Yet she declined the opportunity on several occasions.
That all changed two years ago. Hillary鈥檚 mother passed away, bringing about a shift in the teen鈥檚 perspective about her life. The next time she was asked if she would like to be referred to Make-A-Wish, her answer turned into a yes.
Hillary makes the trek from her home in the Okanagan to Vancouver four times a year for hospital visits. In between, she seeks out her own therapies to manage her Cystic Fibrosis, and horse back riding is her favourite.
A self-described 鈥渉orse nut.鈥� Hillary can be found riding up to five days a week. Hillary鈥檚 father, Tim, sees it as essential to maintaining her health.
鈥淪he probably spends five days a week with her horse in Kelowna,鈥� said Tim. 鈥淗orses have been really good for Hillary. They are very therapeutic, both physically and mentally.鈥�
Hillary didn鈥檛 take long to settle on her wish: A horse riding gear shopping spree. The Lower Mainland community of Langley answered the Make-A-Wish Foundation鈥檚 call for assistance, putting together not just a shopping spree (which included a beautiful custom saddle, pictured on the back of her horse, Zoe), but also a Vancouver hotel stay, limousine ride and a private riding lesson with renowned dressage rider and coach Wendy Christoff at High Point Equestrian.
鈥淣othing compares to riding,鈥� said Hillary. 鈥淚 would really, really like to thank everyone involved, who helped to make this experience what it was.鈥�
鈥淭hroughout my earlier clinic visits as a child, I was advised to stop riding because of the 鈥榰nsanitary environment鈥� and 鈥榙usty hay鈥� but I鈥檝e got to tell you, riding is the best solution to any problem. Horses have been my therapist through my darkest moments, pride during my happiest, and happiness throughout my entire life. It鈥檚 no secret that we become overwhelmed about our conditions and what the future entails for us and our family, but I encourage people to do what makes them happy. Health is priority, but happiness is not far behind.鈥�
Critically ill kids put on a Brave Face every day. Now you can, too, in support of Make-A-Wish.
Black Press Media and have come together to support children facing life-threatening conditions, and we invite you to join us in helping children鈥檚 wishes come true. !
By purchasing a pack of three masks designed and manufactured right here in British Columbia for children, youth and adults, you鈥檒l be supporting the .
