Welcome Spring with our 14th annual 'Healing with Horses' walk-a-thon to benefit Centaur Stride Therapeutic Riding Center! Sponsored by the Lakewood Kiwanis Club, riders at Centaur Stride are gearing up for the 'Healing with Horses' walk-a-thon event, Sunday, March 26th at the Chautauqua Mall. Registration for the event is at 1:30 in front of Old Navy. We hope you’ll consider joining us.

Centaur Stride opened in July 1993. We will be celebrating our 30th Anniversary this year. So many people have helped to make this possible. More than 400 riders with disabilities have participated in our programs over the past 30 years. Some continue long term and some for a time, then take a break, then return. Not only is it recreational, but it has so many benefits across all domains: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. We have the best staff and horses- and we are so grateful to all the volunteers and donors that have been a part of our amazing story.

To commemorate our milestone year, we have set a fundraising goal of $30,000. We need more people to help us reach our goal. There are many ways to help:

- Participate in the walk:

- Start your own fundraising page. Visit Givebutter.com, search for 'Centaur Stride', and click ' fundraise' (guided instructions will prompt you!)

- Join an existing team. You can still raise funds without being on-site for the event on March 26th! If you are interested in joining a team- please visit Givebutter.com, search for 'Centaur Stride', and click 'join a team'

- Donate to a rider's 'Healing with Horses' walk-a-thon page to help that rider raise money for his/her team/horse. Visit the teams givebutter.com/nyc579

Funds raised from the walkathon event will help subsidize the rider fees to keep the price affordable for many. The expense for operating a therapeutic riding center far exceeds the income, especially now with inflation and minimum wage. One in three new centers close within 2 years, and of those, only 1 in 5 make it past 5 years. It doesn’t get any easier. It just takes a lot of people and a lot of hard work. Donations are critical. Centaur stride has no paid Administrative Staff. All money raised goes for operational expenses and programs.

Located in Sherman/Westfield, N.Y, Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding has been providing an inclusive environment of recreational enrichment for persons with and without disabilities from its facilities since 1993. The joy experienced by family members just to see their child engaging in something that they are able to do is monumental. The programs are labor-intensive and require many people to assist. Therefore, each rider and family are so grateful to the community for their selfless donations and volunteer support.

Thank you for helping provide therapeutic recreation, hope, and joy to our riders, their families, and all those who volunteer and witness the amazing world of healing with horses! Program development is on the horizon- we just need funding- anything is possible and every donation helps us reach our goals!

Claudia Monroe, co-founder, is writing a book called Centaur Stride, Where Joy Finds You. We’ll let you know when it is finished!

Centaur Stride 'Healing with Horses' Walk-a-thon

By Centaur Stride Inc

Centaur Stride 'Healing with Horses' Walk-a-thon

30th Anniversary (opened in 1993)