Cooperative Living September 2020 - 18

Heroes
(continued from page 15)
shade tree, I wouldn't have believed it
for a second. "
Those are the kinds of success
stories, says Nelson, that motivate
people to want to come back and
volunteer at Lonesome Dove.
It's not just the veterans who
experience success stories at Lonesome
Dove. Nelson purchased Tonto, a 20year-old
Morgan horse who came from
a kill pen in North Carolina. Tonto was
severely underweight and sick at the
time. As his health grew more stable,
Tonto proved to be a " terror. "
" Everyone kept thinking he wasn't
going to make it and be successful,
but after patiently working with him
Unpaid and dedicated volunteers run
Lonesome Dove, which is a nonprofit
organization that relies completely on
donations. The center is dedicated
to meeting the mental, physical and
emotional needs of veterans in Central
Virginia through equestrian activities.
where there are vendors, a silent
auction, lunch, live music and door
prizes. The whole event benefits
Lonesome Dove because we support
the work they do and the impact they
make. We call it the Horses for Heroes
Ride and this year, on Sept. 5, will be
our seventh annual fundraiser for
them, " he says.
Reedy, a Vietnam veteran, has
for six or seven months, he's now as
sweet as can be, " says Nelson, who
loaned Tonto to Lonesome Dove for
use in the veteran-therapy programs.
He says, " We helped Tonto heal, so
he could help heal some veterans. It's a
neat success story, but from a different
perspective. The veterans love Tonto. "
Brad Furr, vice president of
operations for Southside Electric
Cooperative, occasionally volunteers at
Lonesome Dove. Furr first heard about
the work of the center during a SEC
employee meeting that referred to a
financial donation from the cooperative.
" The work they do with veterans
really touched me, personally, so I
wanted to get more involved and invite
my coworkers at SEC to do so, as well, "
16 | Cooperative Living | September 2020
he explains. Along with several
other SEC employees, Furr recently
volunteered at Lonesome Dove.
" It feels good knowing that you're
a part of something so great. "
HORSES FOR HEROES RIDE
Sam Reedy of Mineral, Va., a
member of Rappahannock Electric
Cooperative and the 25-member Steel
Warriors Veterans Motorcycle Club,
dedicates his time every year on Labor
Day weekend to help raise funds to
support the center's work.
Steel Warriors Veterans Motorcycle
Club is a nonaffiliated organization
of active duty, former military and
military dependents. " We have a
motorcycle ride to Lonesome Dove,
volunteered at the equestrian center
and calls it a very satisfying experience.
" It's nice to be able to talk to other
veterans, and I think Lonesome Dove
gives veterans encouragement and
builds their self-esteem and
confidence, " he says.
" The impact made by this equestrian
center is huge. " ■
For more information,
visit ldequestriancenter.com.
co-opliving.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LONESOME DOVE EQUESTRIAN CENTER
http://www.ldequestriancenter.com http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living September 2020

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