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LITCHFIELD — Mckenzie Gervais, a senior at Oak Hill High School in Wales, will be organizing and hosting a horse show as a fundraiser to benefit the Wounded Heroes Program of Maine Saturday, July 22, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Litchfield Fairgrounds, 44 Plains Road. The event is her senior project — a graduation requirement. “There are many things kids can do, like job shadows,” she said, “but I wanted to do something that had special meaning and would help people. I love horses, and I respect veterans, so I wanted to support an organization that would help them.”
The show will go on rain or shine “as long as there isn’t thunder, lightening or snow,” she quipped, and the length of the day depends upon how many entries show up. Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Several types of barrel racing are on the agenda for the day. They include “Musical Bags,” “Break n Out,” “Quadrangle,” “Figure 8,” “Bat Race” and at least eight more.
Gervais said she is being helped with the logistics by her mother, Nicole Labbe; her grandmother, Claire Labbe, president of the Maine Barrel Racing Association; and Pam Payuer, another member of MeBRA. The entry fee per event is $6, “or they can pay $40 and enter as many as they want all day long,” she added. The sign-up form and other information about the project and event can be found on Facebook at “MeBRA Wounded Heroes Benefit Show.” All entry fees go directly to the Wounded Heroes Program. The event is free to spectators, but donations will be gratefully accepted, she said.
According to the veteran’s organization’s web site, the Wounded Heroes Program of Maine is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer organization established to support wounded veterans when they return home after being injured in the line of duty. Once released from service due to injury, they no longer get paid. Waiting for their disability claim to be processed can take at least a year; the majority of the time, much longer.
During this difficult time of transition, the expenses of daily life can become overwhelming, as they are unable to work and need ongoing medical/mental health care. Wounded Heroes provides a safety net by paying rent, utilities, phone bills, heating fuel payments and more. Wounded Heroes also provides benefits guidance and advocacy so veterans do not have to navigate the systems on their own.
CUTLINE: Mckenzie Gervais and her horse, “Vertigo,” participate in a barrel racing contest. (Submitted photo)
