Therapeutic Riding of Tucson volunteer making a difference

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – At Therapeutic Riding of Tucson’s mission is to improve the lives of children, adults, and veterans with disabilities.

Mike Andreen has been a TROT volunteer for about a year, helping four days a week.

“Most of the time, I’ve been in the sidewalker position,” said Andreen.

With three volunteers, like Andreen, a driver, disabilities become skills.

Andreen, a marine veteran, has had a huge impact on both the drivers and the staff – and even himself.

“What I get out of here is just indescribable, or maybe I could describe it better,” he said.

“Mike is just someone who really wants to help,” says Laura Bissing, Volunteer Coordinator at TROT. “A calm, gentle soul, with a great one-liner here and there.”

There’s therapy for everyone here – drivers with cerebral palsy can gain standing strength and a veteran can smile from ear to ear even when wearing a mask.

And inspiration can come from the youngest of us. A way to look at life and conquer it.

“Those are really big horses and really tiny kids and they get on there and it’s brave,” Andreen said. “It’s the happiest thing I’ve ever seen, and it’s good to be a part of it.”

Mike recently started the Horse Handler program to eventually lead the horses for the riders. If you know someone who goes way beyond the limits in the community, please nominate them here.

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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