For children facing grief In an effort to raise awareness and funding for Camp Amanda-Minnesota, The Minnesota Foundation for Children (MFC) will embark on a 450-mile tour of Minnesota – on horseback. Foundation members Art Dingmann and Jerry Brown, both avid horsemen, will ride horseback from Winona through Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato, Glencoe, Cokato, Annandale, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Carlton, and finally finish their month-long trek in Duluth. The journey will begin April 9 and finish on approximately May 3, depending upon weather conditions. “I’m very excited to make this journey in honor of Camp Amanda-Minnesota and the wonderful work that is done to help children move through the grief process in a safe and nurturing environment,” said Dingmann. “We hope that Minnesotan’s will be encouraged by our efforts to learn more about the work of Camp Amanda and donate generously.” Sunday, April 22, the riders will be arriving at the second Camp Amanda of the year to be held at Camp Courage near Maple Lake. Campers will be able to meet the riders and their horses at a reception that is being planned by area volunteers. More than 30 campers are expected to attend. Many communities will be hosting their own celebrations along the route with the arrival of the horses – and several saddle clubs will be riding along the way. Riders are encouraged to collect pledges for each mile they ride. An individual minimum pledge of $25 is requested for each rider. Camp Amanda-Minnesota Since 2003, the Minnesota Foundation for Children has operated Camp Amanda-Minnesota, a grief camp providing an encouraging environment and support network to children who have experienced the death of a parent, grandparent, sibling, or significant friend. Camp Amanda-Minnesota is free to all campers and has been funded by the generous support of members of the Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association and other concerned members of the community. Since its inception, Camp Amanda-Minnesota has hosted more than 500 children at their camps. The Minnesota Foundation for Children believes mourning is a process, not a one-time event; that mourning is a natural reaction to the death of a loved one, not an illness to be cured or diagnosed; and grieving children will often talk through or play out their concerns and fears if provided with a safe, supportive, non-judgmental environment. To learn more about Camp Amanda-Minnesota and pledge support for Horseback for Hope’s journey to help grieving children visit www.campamandaminn.com. Online donations can be made at www.horsebackforhope.org.
