IMPACT
in Sturgis
Your Generosity in Action
Thanks to your support, United Way of the Black Hills is proud to share real stories — told in the words of our partners — that show how your generosity is making a difference every day.
SunCatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy INC
We serve multiple individuals through our therapeutic horsemanship program who come from the Sturgis area, including “Bev” who came to us following a traumatic stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
Through her six 1-on-1 sessions, she faced her fear of riding. Her sessions involved mostly silence, with equine learning, stretching, and intentional connection with her horse.
As she worked with her therapist outside of session, she brought incredible insight and healed through talking with her horse, learning to trust her horse and her body again. Her anxiety became markedly decreased and she has remained as a volunteer at SunCatcher through the winter.
Her sessions were an amazing testament to how equine movement and partnership can aid in emotional and mental trauma!
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!