A Pinellas County non-profit organization held an inaugural fundraiser in honor of its late co-founder Saturday.
Shadow Serenity provides physical, mental, emotional and spiritual help through equine therapy for those facing cancer, PTSD and other severe illnesses.
"If you’re feeling anxiety and are covering it up, the horse knows and they take it all in and they’re very healing,” Co-founder Jamie Kay-Weil said.
Kay-Weil and co-founder Debbie Newman founded the organization in 2014 after Newman discovered how healing her horse, Shadow, was after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Newman lost her battle in May 2016.
In her honor, the foundation hosted a remembrance walk and trail ride at Helen Howarth Park Saturday. Organizers hoped the event not only honored Newman, but helped raise funds and awareness for the organization.
Volunteers and program participants, like Sharon Moore, attended the fundraiser.
"I suffer from depression,” Moore said. “A lot of times life puts a whole lot on you, you can’t take it all. That’s when you come here."
Moore said she has already noticed a difference in herself just after a few weeks at Shadow Serenity.
The organization hopes to hold the remembrance walk and fundraiser each year.