Local college student raises over $1,000 for New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – One local student is sharing the results of a community effort to donate to a local nonprofit.

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College freshman Joshua Martin raised over $1,000 for New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding, according to a release by McCay & Associates Insurance.

New Beginnings helps those with various disabilities discover their talents and abilities through equine assisted activities and therapies.

Martin collected the donations through a 4-H Service Project he organized during December. The community rallied together to also donate supplies that can be used for riders and horses at the nonprofit.

Martin will present the check at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at the NBTR office at 600 Bill Ferguson Road in Bowling Green.

Martin says he saw the donation drive as a way for him to give back to an organization that has had a big impact on his life, the release says. As a 5-year-old, Martin started therapeutic riding lessons at New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding and has ridden and volunteered there for over a decade.

Martin says, “I wanted to show my thanks to New Beginnings. I want to make sure the program can continue to help other people too.”

Martin set up collection sites at the Warren County Cooperative Extension Office, New Beginnings and McCay and Associates Insurance and promoted the donation drive on local media and social media. He also contacted many friends and family members and over 100 neighbors.

“Originally,” Martin says, “I was hoping to raise at least $500 for New Beginnings, but once I had that, I kept going until I collected over $1,000 in money and donated items.

New Beginnings is still accepting donations, volunteers and riders year-round. For more information, go to nbtr-bg.org or call 270-777-3600.