IA/IL QUAD CITIES - Since 1984, New Kingdom Trailriders (NKT) has been giving affordable riding lessons to people with accident-related injuries, mental handicaps, cerebral palsy and other physical, mental, and emotional challenges, as well as development and learning disorders. Now NKT provides services to military veterans through their Equine Services for Heroes Program, in conjunction with the Wounded Warriors Project. To celebrate this program and provide vital financial support, NKT will hold the Big Impact for Everyday Heroes Fundraising Banquet, and the public is invited.
The Big Impact for Everyday Heroes Fundraising Banquet will be held 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 12, at the Radisson Quad City Plaza, 111 E. 2nd St., Davenport, IA. The evening starts with registration and a social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by the banquet and entertainment, which ends at 9 p.m. The cost is $25 per ticket and funds raised will go toward the Equine Services for Heroes Program. For online registration, visit www.nktriders.org/event-
"The Equine Services for Heroes Program is free to any military veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, limb loss and other combat-related issues," said Alexandra Dirck, Marketing Volunteer for NKT. "Wounded Warriors can contact NKT directly to participate. We want the public to know about this program and encourage potential participants to get in touch."
The event will be hosted by emcee Jason Fechner, WQAD-TV anchorman. One of the special guests at the event will be NKT Ambassador Sarah Hitchcock, who was once a rider with the program. She has since graduated from the program and now volunteers. She will talk about her experiences with NKT and tell how they helped her. Another special guest will be SFC Scott Smith, a local wounded veteran who will share his story at the event.
In addition to dinner, the evening will include a wine pull, a blind silent auction and live auction, and a "Diamond Dig" courtesy of Necker's Jewelers. Gracie the Comfort Dog from Trinity Lutheran Church and School and representatives of Military Cost Cutters will be there, along with live music.
In addition to dinner, the evening will include a wine pull, a blind silent auction and live auction, and a "Diamond Dig" courtesy of Necker's Jewelers. Gracie the Comfort Dog from Trinity Lutheran Church and School and representatives of Military Cost Cutters will be there, along with live music.
NKT annually serves 90 to 100 students representing ages ranging between three and adult, with a variety of challenges. The program operates four evenings a week. During the day, private classes are available, as well as field trip experiences for group homes, agencies and schools. In addition to group classes, private classes are available as well as one-day field trip experiences for group homes, agencies and schools. NKT is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation.
For more information on New Kingdom Trailriders, call (309) 764-4220 or visit www.nktriders.org.
