Eventers Ralph Hill, Kim Meier and Debbie Atkinson suffered catastrophic injuries in 2006 and 2007, and friends, family and supporters have been working around the clock to come up with ways to help them.
“Ralph’s niece Michelle and his sister Linda chose five people to help with the fundraising efforts so it wouldn’t be scattered all over the world. We got together and decided we needed to do something at Rolex,” said Mary Lowry of U.S. Eventing Association Area VIII.
Members of Area VIII always have a booth at Rolex Kentucky, so it seemed like a great place to set up a fundraiser for the injured riders. Area VIII chairman Mike Winter and Lowry spearheaded the effort, while Hill’s family connected with Janise Gray, the Director of Grant Recipient Services at the Equestrian Aid Foundation.
“We realized we had to raise a lot of money, and the EAF was how [Ralph’s family] chose to funnel the funds, because that makes them tax-deductible,” explained Lowry. “They have no office, no overhead, all the money goes to the riders,”
Founded in 1996 as the Equestrian AIDS Foundation, the EAF has since expanded and now helps equestrians with catastrophic illness and injury as well as riders with HIV and AIDS. One hundred percent of money donated that is designated for a particular rider goes to that rider.
Items for sale at Rolex Kentucky to help benefit Hill, Meier and Atkinson include T-shirts, posters, wristbands, gym bags, lapel pins and more.
“We put $5,000 in the bank [on April 27], and that was just cash,” said Lowry. “I know we’ve gotten checks as well. We have 9,000 bracelets at $5 a bracelet and 1,000 T-shirts at $20 a shirt. The wristbands are selling like hotcakes.”
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The money raised through items sold will be divided between the three riders after the competition is over.
“Ralph’s family wanted the money not just to go to Ralph. They felt that if Ralph were able to speak himself, he would have said that,” said Lowry.
People can also make direct donations to help the riders or to go into the general fund of the Equestrian Aid Foundation. To donate directly to one of the injured riders, simply designate the rider when making the donation.
“The generosity of people never ceases to amaze me,” said Gray. “Someone will walk in and hand us a $20 bill. They don’t want a T-shirt. At an event like Rolex there’s so many people, and so many people coming in and wanting to help, when you have a personality like Ralph Hill, who has competed here since 1978.
“It’s personal for me,” she continued. “I used to event, and I was a working student for Ralph Hill back in 1982. I just met Debbie. I couldn’t wait to get here to meet her. I live about 10 miles away from Kessler [Institute (N.J.)], so I’ve been to visit Kim Meier. They’re very inspiring to me because of their indomitable will. Their spirit is just amazing.”
If you want to send a direct donation to either Hill or Atkinson’s fund, send a check to Janise Gray, Equestrian Aid Foundation, 228 Phillips Terrace, Union, NJ 07083. Be sure to write “Ralph Hill” or “Debbie Atkinson” in the memo section of the check to ensure
your donation directly helps the rider.
Direct donations for Meier should be sent to the Maryland Network For Injured Equestrians Inc., P.O. Box 296, Jarrettsville, MD 21084 with Meier’s name in the memo line.
