Classic Communications
Far Hills, NJ—August 15, 2010—Spectators attending the Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions and World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at the USET Foundation Headquarters in Gladstone, NJ, were treated to a special driving demonstration by the sharingVillage Survivor Groups’ Driving for Surviving program.
sharingVillage Survivor Groups’ is a 501c3 not-for-profit New Jersey corporation dedicated to helping child and adult survivors of life threatening illness and their families by providing the tools needed to understand and cope with the challenges of living with illness. Driving for Surviving is a program designed for children who have been diagnosed with cancer or other life threatening illness. All services are provided free of charge.
The exhibition at the Festival of Champions featured five children ages 7-18, driving a miniature horse or pony in a drill with 17-year-old Megan G of Hampton, NJ, leading the way.
“It was a lot of fun, but I was a little nervous. I was more nervous for him than for me,” said Megan of Love Pat, the horse she drove that was donated by Robert Wood Johnson. “He has a history of spooking in the arena, but today he was perfect.”
Each driver performed in pairs with an older participant serving as a mentor. They were ably assisted by Sharon Chesson, a three-time member of the Unites States’ World Pairs Driving Championship team including the 1991 Gold Medal team.
“They did not need me out there today,” said Chesson. “I am so pleased with the way the kids performed. They were confident and proved to everyone that they can drive. I am just grateful for the opportunity to be here to let everyone know the great work that sharingVillage does.”
Shelley Zlotkin, Executive Director of sharingVillage Survivor Groups, could not have been happier with the demonstration. “I want to thank the USEF and the USET Foundation for hosting our demonstration at the Festival of Champions,” she said. “I was so proud of our kids and how they performed. They demonstrated confidence and a unique kind of courage that is helping them meet the challenges they face each day. We are so fortunate that Sharon Chesson gives of herself to work with them; she helps them not only with their driving but, more importantly, with how to meet any challenge successfully. We all owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude.”
Further information on sharingVillage Survivor Groups and its Driving for Surviving program is available on line at www.sharingVillage.org, by email at [email protected] or by calling 908-234-0334.