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CHRISTMAS CARD CAMPAIGN

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Gemma Quinn / 2011-11-19 19:02:20

Who is on your Christmas card list this year? Family, friends, neighbours....well how about Molly the Pony in America? Yes you read right, whilst your children are busy writing their cards this year why not encourage them to make or write a card for Molly the Pony in America.

The Christmas Card Campaign is the idea of the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre (EHCRC) in Rojales who want youngsters in the area to send an extra special Christmas wish this year to a very special pony, the same pony that inspired the survival and recovery of Easy Horse Care's Faith. Sue and Rod Weeding, founders of EHCRC, will personally deliver the cards to Molly as they make an emotional and exciting visit to the USA to meet with Molly and the medical team behind Faith's amazing recovery.

Faith's story has been well documented this year. Faith arrived at the rescue centre in August 2010 with severe injuries to her leg that, despite receiving pioneering treatment developed to help treat soldiers injured by landmines during war, needed to have her leg amputated,  a procedure very rare on horses but was made possible when the centre heard the story of Molly the Pony.

Identical in size and with a similar injury on the same leg the centre quickly developed a strong relationship with Molly's owners in Louisiana and their vets who made the surgery a viable option for Faith. Now, as Faith happily gets on with life at EHCRC, are heading to Louisiana to meet with the little horse who has inspired a nation and inspired Faith's recovery, her owners and the veterinary team behind her ground breaking recovery.

They will also finally meet Dwayne Mara who creates Molly's prosthetic limbs and has prepared Faith's new limb which will allow her to bend the leg and give her a greater quality of life and help prevent further injury and infection. “We are going to go and collect her new leg and that will be her Christmas present!” an excited Sue explains adding it cost hundreds of euros last time to get the limb shipped over from the USA so they will be personally collecting this one.

As two horses on opposite sides of the world joined by the same story Sue told the Leader she felt it would be a great idea to unite the two and share messages from Spain with Molly. “We want children to do Christmas cards for Molly and we will personally take them and hand deliver them to her. We are also trying to contact US media and hopefully children there will do the same and we will bring back cards for Faith.” Molly's message is to help children, especially children who, like Molly may be different or have a disability.

Her fame led to the creation of Molly's Foundation which administers educational programs for children using ponies to support what they are learning in school and offers rehabilitative programs that utilise Molly for improved social, ethical, mental and emotional health. Sue also sees Faith's future going a similar way and is keen to get more children aware of their stories and interested in horses and invites all local school children to get involved in the Christmas card campaign.

“We want to make kids think and to make them feel that their card is special and they can make a difference. We also have a contact and keen supporter in the UK who is contacting Great Ormond Street Hospital to see if they will get behind the scheme and get the children making cards.”

The couple leave for America on Saturday 17th December and would like to receive cards by Thursday 15th December. You can hand your cards in directly to the Rescue Centre in Rojales or leave them with staff at either of the two charity stores situated in Quesada or La Siesta so get your kids, their friends and their school groups together and spread seasons greetings to someone a little special this year.

The EHCRC relies only on charitable donations. Anybody can make a difference by sponsoring one of our horses for as little as 5€ per month by contacting us directly. They are open to the public all year round every day from 1-4pm. On Sundays and Wednesdays they have guided tours, where visitors can meet the horses and donkeys and hear their stories. Visitors can also enjoy a light lunch or light refreshments available in the café garden, and all proceeds go towards the support of the centre. For more information visit our website www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue on 652 021 980.