Trails 4 Transplants “Coming Home Ride”
Trails4Transplants held their twelfth annual ride and fundraising event May 28th - June 1st. The T4T 2024 “Coming Home Ride” was an enormous success with 45 riders on 38 horses and a support crew of 8 to 10 people participating. On May 28th, T4T’s base camp was set up at the Lake Bronson State Park Group Camp. And throughout the week, riders and support crew showed up from Dalhart, TX, Pierre, SD, Bismarck/Mandan, ND, Minneapolis to Duluth and Northern Minnesota. A total of six days of fellowship, riding, singing, telling stories, and sharing a common desire to support T4T’s mission.
Trails4Transplants is a non-profit group with the mission of promoting awareness for the need of eye, organ, and tissue donors, as well as raising funds to assist those ‘waiting for’ or ‘recovering from’ transplants.
A brief outline of the week’s riding activities included two days when the ride started from an abandoned townsite on MN Hwy 11 called Pelan Park. On one of those rides, T4T rode to Lifecare Greenbush Manor in Greenbush. On the second ride from Pelan Park, T4T rode to Karlstad, and there T4T riders and support crew stopped by the Karlstad Senior Living and The Meadows Assisted Living facilities. At all three of these nursing home facilities, residents and staff were waiting outside to see the horses and listen to T4T people sing a couple traditional songs. That undoubtedly was a fun and special time enjoyed by all! One day the ride started out from the Karlstad Legion, and everyone rode to the Frog Pond in Halma. And of the four days of riding, a day was dedicated to riding the scenic horse trails at Lake Bronson State Park. Several riders commented on how they appreciated being able to ride all or just portions of the week’s 46-mile journey in the beautiful Kittson and Roseau county area! The week’s activities finished with a spirited silent auction at the Lake Bronson State Park group camp building with many items donated and all the items were sold! The “Coming Home Ride” was filled with awesome riding, delicious food, plenty of fun, lots of laughter, and a group camaraderie that was evident all week long! Now it’s time for a special shout out and a huge thank you to all that organized, provided meals and transportation, sponsored or helped out in any way: C&M Ford, Wojo’s Horse Training, SuperMarket Foods, Karlstad Lions Club, Karlstad Eagles, Karlstad Legion, Karlstad Korner, The Frog Pond, Ed Lehrke Ribs, George & Joyce Wikstrom, Cindy & Keith Urbaniak, Sandy & Wayne Gjervold, Econ & Josie Lysford, Jessica Anderson & Casey Solberg, Kathy & Everett Englund, Doug & Nancy Lysford, T4T Riders, T4T Support Crew, All that donated Silent Auction Items, all that purchased Silent Auction Items.
There are lots of pictures of this year’s ride and of previous rides on T4T’s Facebook page, check it out: https://www.facebook.com/ trails4transplants/ The first T4T ride began in Warren, MN in 2013 and from its beginning and through the 2024 ride, there’s been over 2,570 miles covered in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota with approximately $400,000 raised. The funds raised are to promote awareness, support donor families, and help those who have received the precious gift of life. T4T is a volunteer-run organization with no paid administrative staff. If you haven’t already, consider checking the box and say yes! Give the gift of life as an organ donor!
Keep watching for the next ride as it is already in the planning stages for 2025. That ride will take place in Pierre, SD. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join Trails4Transplants trail ride in 2025!
For more information about Trails4Transplant go to https://trails4transplants. org website, or contact:
•Roger Hille at [email protected] (Tel: 218-201-0589)
•Doug Lysford at [email protected] (Tel: 218-452-8969) If you have enjoyed reading about T4T’s adventures and would like to donate to this worthy cause, please send your check to: Trails4Transplant C/O Roger Hille 5195 County Rd 81 Mandan, ND 58554
By supporting Trails4Transplants, you’re contributing to a cause that saves lives and brings hope to those in need.
Happy Trails!
16
Weeks!
