Tickets are on sale for South Bend-based Reins of Life's annual Kelsey Marie Meekhof Memorial Dinner and Auction Feb. 1.
This marks the 27th year of the dinner and auction. The event will feature a social hour, dinner, silent and live auctions.
All proceeds from the event support Reins of Life’s equine-assisted programming for children and adults with disabilities. The organization provides therapeutic riding, interactive vaulting and therapeutic driving. It also offers memory-promoting programs for seniors, mini-visits at libraries, day programs and equine-assisted learning through special education school programs.
Mark and Carla Meekhof are the dinner hosts. They discovered the program through their daughter, Kelsey, who had cerebral palsy and was wheelchair bound.
“It is hard to express the sense of accomplishment and joy that Reins of Life provided Kelsey,” the Meekhofs said in a press release. “Now, since Kelsey has left us, we keep Kelsey's memory alive by continuing to raise funds for the program and telling everyone we know how special a place Reins of Life is.”
According to Reins of Life, the event provides an outlet to talk about the partnership of a human and a horse and the benefits one can derive from equine-assisted activities. Families will have the opportunity to share their stories about the impact of Reins of Life.
The dinner will take place 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Armory in South Bend. Learn more here.
Founded in 1978, Reins of Life has facilities in Michigan Cities and South Bend. To meet high demand, the nonprofit organization is expanding its South Bend location. Reins of Life serves over 450 people monthly from an estimated 100-mile radius, including St. Joseph, Marshall, Elkhart, Fulton, Porter, Starke and La Porte Counties in Indiana, and Berrien and Cass Counties in Michigan.
