As most of you are aware, one of our beloved little warriors, Stone Pope, son of Shane and Holt Pope, passed away in February of this year due to a heart condition. Did you know that one out of every 100 babies are affected by congenital heart defects? More children will die from them than all childhood cancers combined, and yet it is the least funded in research. Many in the horse community are doing their part to try and change these statistics.
After young Stone’s sudden passing, there was an amazing outpouring of condolences from everyone in the horse community towards the Pope family. Stone’s mother, Holt has recently created the Heart of Stone Foundation to raise money to help “Heart families” in need.
On Monday June 15th, during The Little Futurity, there will be the first ever Heart of Stone Western Pleasure Class and all proceeds will go to the Heart of Stone Foundation, a 501(c) Organization so all donations are tax deductible. There will be a live auction and prizes held during the show.
“The winner will receive an NSBA trophy courtesy of Dianne Eppers and the National Snaffle Bit Association. Donated Prizes will also be awarded in the class as well,” Holt states. “We have a horse that has been donated by the Kimmel Family of Covington, Ohio that will be auctioned off. ‘Moondog’ is pretty well known around the shows because he is a horse we use to pony horses off. He was a horse that Stone loved to ride and be around. We are so grateful that the Kimmel’s have let Moondog (pictured right with Stone) be a part of our family and we hope he goes to a great new family. He is definitely one of a kind. The proceeds from Moondog will also go directly to the Heart of Stone Foundation. We also have several other drawings and auction items that will be added to the list.”
We asked Hope how the proceeds from the class and auction will be used to help local “Heart” families.
“The Heart family community is far and wide, however, heart families here in the Carolina’s have really been apart of our journey as well. We understand the journey that the Heart Families are on. It’s a grueling roller coaster ride that no one wishes to be on. One thing that we noticed while at MUSC (The Medical University of South Carolina) was the lack of parents in the units. Several families can not afford to stay with their child throughout the whole process every day,” Holt says. “The Heart of Stone Foundation will lend a helping hand to these families through baskets with different items that will help in their stay. Gas gift cards are a great item we will be including to help out as well as gift cards to the cafeteria and other local places. You’d be surprised what little things go a long way when you are put in this situation.”
Holt continues, “I remember receiving my first basket while there and thinking how amazing it was that these heart families were there for us. Shane and I as well as our families want to be there for other families now. It will start at MUSC’s Children’s Hospital and Pediatric Cardiology units but we would like to reach the top Pediatric Heart Hospitals around the country. We were blessed to be at one of the Top 20 in the country as well as have a world renowned surgeon perform Stone’s 10 hour Open Heart Surgery when he was just eight days old. It is our mission that the Heart of Stone Foundation spread awareness of the nation’s leading birth defect and give support to fellow heart families.”
Pope adds, “Thanks to all that have donated in honor of Stone. It is because of you we know Stone’s legacy will live on.”
If individuals are interested in donating any items for auction or as prizes they can contact Hope via email at [email protected]. They can also contact Gale Little at [email protected].
Holt would like to thank the Little Family for supporting them and asking if they could start this class. “It is an honor,” she says. “Also thanks to NCQHA and the entire horse community for the support that you have shown Stone and our family. Our horse show family is like none other and we are so appreciative.”
CLICK HERE to check out The Heart of Stone Foundation ad in the June issue of GoMag
