Dream Riders of Kentucky held its annual Barns & BBQ event on Thursday, where Bicycle Owensboro presented the nonprofit with a check for $21,500.
Bicycle Owensboro, who recently held the Bourbon & Bluegrass Century Ride, donated the money raised from the 100-mile bike ride as a fundraiser for Dream Riders. The ride, which was held in early August, hosted 556 people from 15 different states.
The Barns & BBQ event hosted nearly 100 attendees on Thursday and included picnic-style fair and live bluegrass entertainment. The event served as an opportunity for supporters to see programs in action; how impactful their contribution is to riders and their families.
Dream Riders was founded in 2003 by four individuals with children with special needs. Without a similar program offered in Daviess County, the “dream” was born. For several years the program was held in various temporary locations across the county until 2014 when Dream Riders moved to its permanent location on 4705 Winkler Road.
The facility sits on 17 acres of leased land from the Daviess County Fair board and includes an indoor riding arena, an outdoor riding arena and wooded riding trails. Dream Riders owns its horses, barns and equipment.
“More than 50 percent of Dream Riders of Kentucky’s funding comes from community and corporate donors and grants,” said Executive Director Kelly Flick.
The 2019 Dream Rider’s season has 45 registered riders for the regular riding program; however the two day-event programs for individuals with special needs brought in an additional 32 riders. Riders’ range in age from 3 years to senior citizen. Their disabilities include, but not limited to autism, down syndrome, behavioral challenges, ADHD, Anxiety, Cerebral Palsy.
For more information, contact,Dream Riders of Kentucky at (270) 883-1418.
