The UPHA is Proud to Continue Their Partnership with Make-A-Wish America
Saturday, April 13, 2019
We all know the UPHA does a lot of great things to "give back" and this is certainly one of them. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the United Professional Horsemen's Association being named the "The Official Horse Wish Grantor" by the Make-A-Wish America Organization. Stephanie Pedro, the National Mission Advancement Coordinator for Make-A-Wish America and the UPHA, will continue their good work to grant horse related wishes.
Recently a phone call from one UPHA member to another, led to great news for a young lady from Florida. Nancy Becker knew just who to call when she received a horse wish from Norma Gonzales with Make-A-Wish® of Central & Northern Florida. A very special thank you goes out to Maria Gilman for her help in making this become a reality!
Ashley Sammon, already a cancer survivor, and pictured above, received a cutting horse during a presentation in front of a crowd of thousands at the Silver Spurs Arena. She's put a major health scare behind her and at the Silver Spurs Rodeo, she became the owner of a new horse, a dark brown mare named Gracefull Lights, thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the UPHA and Billy Kid, an Osceola County horse trainer. "This was an incredible surprise," she said. "Callie is a horse I could never afford, she's the cadillac of horses." Through all the treatments and surgeries, Sammon beat the odds and is now in remission.
A wish come true helps terminally ill children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their critical illnesses. For many, the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals say, the wish experience works in concert with medicine to make their patients feel better emotionally and even physically. That is why wishes matter, and why the UPHA will continue to grow their partnership with Make-A-Wish to grant as many future horse wishes as possible.
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