Foremost among the donations by EEI is a contribution of $15,000 to the Kentucky Children’s Hospital at the University of Kentucky. The donation will help purchase a new heart lung machine to help pediatric cardiology patients at Kentucky Children’s Hospital which conducts approximately 175 children’s heart procedures a year. Previously, the hospital was using an adult heart lung machine, modified to treat children.
The Kentucky Children’s Hospitalheart center is a full-service pediatric heart center that provides inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services for children with congenital or acquired heart diseases. Treatment also includes patients who have advanced into adulthood, providing the consistency of comprehensive care important to positive long-term outcomes. Adult and pediatric congenital heart-related services will be available in one location beginning October 3 in the center at 740 SouthLimestone in Lexington, KY.
“We can’t thank supporters of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event enough for understanding that heart surgery for a six-week-old baby is completely different than heart surgery on a middle-aged person,” said Dr. Lou Bezold, chief of pediatric cardiology and co-chair of the heart center at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. “This new equipment makes it possible to accommodate the demands of surgery on the smallest children. Hundreds and hundreds of children will benefit.”
The following five charities also received financial contributions from EEI:
• Central Kentucky Riding for the Hope (CKRH) – CKRH is dedicated to enriching the community by improving the quality of life and the health of children and adults with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs through therapeutic activities with the horse.
• Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) – ELCR is an educational and networking resource for horsemen and communities, providing the information that horsemen need to protect horse lands and trails in their home towns.
• Midway College – As Kentucky’s only college for Women and as a forerunner in coeducational adult accelerated learning, Midway College empowers undergraduate and graduate students as leaders through a professionally-oriented liberal arts education.
• Boyd Martin Fire Relief – The fund for Boyd Martin Fire Relief provides financial assistance to Eventing rider Boyd Martin and all others at Windurra LLC and True Prospect Farm who were impacted by a tragic fire that killed six horses and injured five more at True Prospect Farm in West Grove, PA on May 31.
• University of Kentucky Equestrian Team Fund – The fund supports the travel of the Equestrian Team to participate in eight competitions in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, regional and zone competitions. The Equestrian Team is more than about competing; it is where lifetime friendships are made with horses and people that love horses.
“EEI is extremely happy to be in a position to assist these important charities and we are proud to support their efforts,” said EEI President Lisa Ball. “The people of Kentucky and those from all across the country who love horses have helped our events achieve a position of renown and it is an honor for us to support these charities that help serve them.”
The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Bridgestone is the only CCI4* in the Western Hemisphere. It features the USEF Four Star Championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup, signifying the zenith in Eventing competition in the United States.
The event draws 50,000 to 100,000 spectators and is seen by millions more on worldwide telecasts including a domestic broadcast on NBC.
The Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup includes a CRI5*, the sport’s highest level of competition, as well as the world’s first World Championship Freestyle. The CRI5* offers $50,000 in prize money and was the only Five Star Reining event in the Western Hemisphere in 2011.
Further information is available on line at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event website at www.rk3de.org and at the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup website at www.KentuckyReining.com.