by Nancy Brannon
Chris Blethen is riding across the country to raise awareness for the needs of children with cancer. “Memphis has St. Jude Children’s Hospital,” he said, “So folks around here are very aware of the problems and needs of children with cancer. But in other parts of the country, there is little awareness of children’s cancer and what their families go through.”
Chris started his ride in Euless, TX (between Ft. Worth and Dallas) and is making his way to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York City, where he hopes to appear on the “Morning Show” to bring national attention to his mission.
Five years ago Chris was diagnosed with cancer. As a cancer survivor, he has helped with relays, auctions, and other fund raising and awareness raising events. “I became more aware of how children’s cancer is ignored,” he said. “I have always loved my horses, so I decided to ride across the country to do something for the children. My goal is to raise money for the Heroes for Children Cancer Foundation, and to raise awareness of the need. The money raised goes to meet the needs of the families of children with cancer, so they, in turn, can prioritize the needs of the child. The funds help pay for rent or mortgage, utilities, etc. When the children are going through chemo-therapy, they buy the children laptop computers so they can do their school work and keep in touch with friends.” His goal is to raise at least $3,000 ($1 for every mile of his round trip).
Heroes for Children provides financial and social assistance to families in Texas battling childhood cancer. Since its inception in 2004, Heroes for Children has provided over $3.5 million in program services.
When we met him between Ellendale and Lakeland on April 12, he had ridden about 500 miles so far. “Nashville is about the half-way mark,” he said. “I cover about 20 miles a day.” Chris and his horses were trekking up Highway 70, and the horses were remarkably calm with all the traffic going by. He’ll be taking that route all the way to Nashville. Aubrey Lemmons provided feed, hay, and accommodations for Chris and his horses at Coyote Run Arena in Mason, TN. In Jackson, TN, R & J Feed provided feed, hay, and a place to stay for them April 15-17. They also donated horse shoes and farrier David Cutler donated his time to shoe the horses. They sent out a multi-media alert in Jackson for a press conference upon his arrival.
Asked about his horse riding and training experience, Chris said he just does pleasure riding. His “real” job is working for VIP Event Services, so he is able to take a hiatus for a few months to make his ride. Surprisingly he has had few hardships and difficulties along the way. He did have one mare who had a tendon “flare up” from an old injury, so he sent her back home. He also had an aged mare with him, in her 20s, who had plenty of energy, but he could tell the arduous trip was taking its toll on her. So he sent her back home. At home he has eight horses, and he brought four with him: Scooby, Bella, Arapahoe, and Bucky.
How about the effect of all the time spent in the saddle on his own body? “The first week I got saddle sore, but after the first week, I guess my butt got numb.” He says spending all day in the saddle is no problem. “I also realized all the stuff I didn’t need for the trip,” so he has jettisoned the extraneous stuff. About every 20 miles he finds a place to stop over and set up camp. He sleeps in a tent and sleeping bag next to his horses.
He left home March 8 and expects to arrive in New York around mid-June. So keep a watch through the media for reports of his arrival and stops along the way.
Donations to Heroes for Children are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.heroesforchildren.org. Make donations for Chris’ fundraising ride online at: www.active.com/donate/horserideforheroes
Chris Blethen is riding across the country to raise awareness for the needs of children with cancer. “Memphis has St. Jude Children’s Hospital,” he said, “So folks around here are very aware of the problems and needs of children with cancer. But in other parts of the country, there is little awareness of children’s cancer and what their families go through.”
Chris started his ride in Euless, TX (between Ft. Worth and Dallas) and is making his way to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York City, where he hopes to appear on the “Morning Show” to bring national attention to his mission.
Five years ago Chris was diagnosed with cancer. As a cancer survivor, he has helped with relays, auctions, and other fund raising and awareness raising events. “I became more aware of how children’s cancer is ignored,” he said. “I have always loved my horses, so I decided to ride across the country to do something for the children. My goal is to raise money for the Heroes for Children Cancer Foundation, and to raise awareness of the need. The money raised goes to meet the needs of the families of children with cancer, so they, in turn, can prioritize the needs of the child. The funds help pay for rent or mortgage, utilities, etc. When the children are going through chemo-therapy, they buy the children laptop computers so they can do their school work and keep in touch with friends.” His goal is to raise at least $3,000 ($1 for every mile of his round trip).
Heroes for Children provides financial and social assistance to families in Texas battling childhood cancer. Since its inception in 2004, Heroes for Children has provided over $3.5 million in program services.
When we met him between Ellendale and Lakeland on April 12, he had ridden about 500 miles so far. “Nashville is about the half-way mark,” he said. “I cover about 20 miles a day.” Chris and his horses were trekking up Highway 70, and the horses were remarkably calm with all the traffic going by. He’ll be taking that route all the way to Nashville. Aubrey Lemmons provided feed, hay, and accommodations for Chris and his horses at Coyote Run Arena in Mason, TN. In Jackson, TN, R & J Feed provided feed, hay, and a place to stay for them April 15-17. They also donated horse shoes and farrier David Cutler donated his time to shoe the horses. They sent out a multi-media alert in Jackson for a press conference upon his arrival.
Asked about his horse riding and training experience, Chris said he just does pleasure riding. His “real” job is working for VIP Event Services, so he is able to take a hiatus for a few months to make his ride. Surprisingly he has had few hardships and difficulties along the way. He did have one mare who had a tendon “flare up” from an old injury, so he sent her back home. He also had an aged mare with him, in her 20s, who had plenty of energy, but he could tell the arduous trip was taking its toll on her. So he sent her back home. At home he has eight horses, and he brought four with him: Scooby, Bella, Arapahoe, and Bucky.
How about the effect of all the time spent in the saddle on his own body? “The first week I got saddle sore, but after the first week, I guess my butt got numb.” He says spending all day in the saddle is no problem. “I also realized all the stuff I didn’t need for the trip,” so he has jettisoned the extraneous stuff. About every 20 miles he finds a place to stop over and set up camp. He sleeps in a tent and sleeping bag next to his horses.
He left home March 8 and expects to arrive in New York around mid-June. So keep a watch through the media for reports of his arrival and stops along the way.
Donations to Heroes for Children are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.heroesforchildren.org. Make donations for Chris’ fundraising ride online at: www.active.com/donate/horserideforheroes
