august 5, 2015
Student starts to shine at Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship’s 6th Annual Starry Knights
Friends are like stars, you can’t always see them but you know they’re always there
SCOTTSDALE – Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship will host its annual fundraiser, Starry Knights, on Saturday, November 7 and will once again shine the spotlight squarely on its extraordinary students.
“The theme for this year’s Starry Knights is ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ and represents all of the beautiful, sparkling friendships that develop and thrive at Camelot,” said Camelot’s Executive Director, Mary Hadsall. “At this year’s event we are excited to feature two students’ stories, one child and one adult, who exemplify the generous, joyful and determined attitudes that make Camelot so special.”
Derik Hanson (above)
Among the students featured will be 10-year-old Cortina Elementary Student, Derik Hanson. Derik developed transverse myelitis when he was 6-months-old which left him with paralysis from the waist down. Derik is a self-described “daredevil” and, in addition to horseback riding, he enjoys archery, sled hockey, jet skiing and hand-cycling.
Lynne LoCascio
Lynne, one of Camelot’s adult students, came to Camelot as a volunteer in 2003 and joined the student roster in 2011 to help alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Lynne loves spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren as well as in the barn surrounded by friends and animals. In addition to her devoted assistance dog, Griffin, Lynne has a miniature donkey, a miniature horse, a Rat Terrier named Pebbles and the world’s largest cat, named Hercules.
Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship is a nonprofit organization that teaches horsemanship to children and adults who have physical disabilities. Camelot has been offering all services at no cost to students for 31 years and is located in North Scottsdale. Camelot will use funds raised through Starry Knights to continue to offer their horsemanship program to children and adults with disabilities free of charge.