ECOGOLD Fundraiser for Talia Czapsi, Young Eventer Hit by Drunk Driver (From Horse Junkies United)
Submitted by: Laurie Smith Phone:
Date Added: 6/19/2013
On June 9th at 6:30am, 22 year-old Virginia eventer Talia Czapsi was on her way to work at the barn with a friend, when their car was hit in a head-on collision by an unlicensed, speeding, 19 year-old drunk driver.
(Click here to read the full article http://www.horsejunkiesunited.com/?p=62112)
Talia had to be airlifted to Inova Fairfax hospital with two broken femurs, a broken hand and a broken foot. She successfully underwent surgery and is now in the rehab facility at Mt. Vernon Hospital in Alexandria VA. Her injuries are debilitating, and faces a painful and long-term convalescence.
Her trainer Lee DiGangi said: “This is a lovely, kind, hard-working, decent and wonderful young woman (only 22, working her way through college AND working full time to support her horse Aria), she has toiled for everything she has and is the opposite of an “entitled young person”. She got her mare for free (after she failed a PPE and no one wanted her), and nursed her back to soundness. She has been patient and tireless.”
Without the ability to work (she was holding 2 jobs to afford her riding expenses), the long recovery and medical bills, it will be difficult for Talia to care for her mare so her friends have set up a fundraising website (click on this link) to help cover Talia’s horse bills: “We are all pitching in to help so that Talia doesn’t have to worry about Aria’s care while she is healing. If we are able to raise enough to cover Aria’s board, farrier, vet and other misc expenses, this will greatly ease Talia’s mind – and will be a Godsend not only to her, but to her family and friends.”
I don’t know this young woman or any of her connections but for some reason, Talia’s story really touched me… I think we can all identify with someone working 2 jobs and doing what they can to support their dreams. I tried to donate online on their website but it doesn’t seem to work from Canada…so today at lunchtime, I asked the big boss at ECOGOLD (aka – my father) if we could organize a fundraiser where a percentage of sales would be donated to help Talia. And… he said YES.
All right, here are the details….
ECOGOLD will donate 20% on ALL ORDERS placed in the EVENTING SECTION of the website, which has been renamed Talia’s Fundraiser, until June 25 2013 (one week).
If anyone would like any item in another section (Dressage, Hunter/Jumper) to count towards this fundraiser, just write “Talia’s Fundraiser” in the comments and it will be added to the total.
Hoping this helps a little… Here’s to good karma!
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