THE organisers of one of Australia’s largest horse competitions have jumped on board to help the Kinder family host a fundraising evening at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds, in honour of what would have been their beloved daughter and sister Billie’s 13th birthday.
Billie was killed in a tragic horse accident in May last year, when she was only 12 years old. Since her death, her Pitt Town family have been fundraising for various causes in her memory, and have now raised and donated $30,000 to help children and animals.
Billie was a keen horse rider and loved animals. She was also a talented writer, and a collection of her poems, narratives and artwork, called Hope, has sold thousands of copies around the world, with proceeds going to Bear Cottage and various animal charities.
Her birthday fundraising event, dubbed the Equifest Evening of Hope, will take place on Friday, March 31, during Equifest - a five-day horse show and competition which will also be hosted at the Showgrounds.
“The Equifest team saw the remarkable girl that Billie was and believe in her words of hope. Our family are eternally grateful to Equifest and their offer of the wonderful facilities at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds to celebrate this touching occasion,” said Billie’s mum, Danny Mayson-Kinder.
“All profits from the night’s fundraising will be going to Assistance Dogs Australia towards a dog for someone living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”
The event will begin at 6.30pm and go through to 10.30pm, with food, drink, dancing, live music from After Dark, and an open and silent auction.
A raffle will also be drawn on the evening, with the major prize a holiday for two to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef, including flights, accommodation, day trips cruises, a snorkelling tour, a jet ski tour and a food voucher, all valued at over $5000.
Tickets for the raffle are $10 each and can be purchased on the evening of the fundraiser, or prior to the event at the Fly High Billie website at www.flyhighbillie.com, as well as from the Pitt Town Post Office, and retail store Jewellery by a Farmer's Daughter in Windsor.
Tickets for the Equifest Evening of Hope fundraising evening are $25 - which includes entry, an alcoholic beverage or soft drink, and food on arrival - and can be purchased from the Equifest website at www.equifest.com.au.