Dottie

Dottie Today:

At Kel-j-Do Stables, we work hard to support and strengthen the communities that our clients and volunteers call home. We believe that investing in our communities is about working and building relationships with the different organizations and volunteers that we support. This is one story that we would like to share with you about a wonderful little horse named Dottie.

Alison and Megan are now wonderful young ladies who continue to inspire others to always do their best.

Today Dottie and her partner Charlie are retired, and Dottie is no longer riding elevators dressed up in pink to visit sick children, arranged through the Kids with Cancer Society, which was in part sponsored by the Canadian Western Bank. Dottie and Charlie continue to have many, many visitors. Both of these little horse's bring smiles and happiness to all that come and enjoy them.

Tom and Donna Austin

The Dottie Story:

KEL-j-DO owner Donna Austin attended a black tie dinner on behalf of Canadian Western Bank in 2006. At that dinner she met 2 very wonderful young ladies....Elexis and Brittany both age 9 and both going through many cancer treatments. Like a lot of young girls they both just loved horses and would do anything to be able to ride and be with horses.

Then shortly after, DOTTIE came along to KEL-j-DO Stables. Dottie arrived as a big surprise as she was a companion to another very large horse and she was unwanted by the owner. Dottie was quickly discovered by our 2 little neighbour girls....Alison age 10 yrs. and Megan age 7 yrs. The girls would visit us often and soon fell in love with Dottie. As Dottie’s future was unknown, the girls decided that they needed to buy her to give her a good and loving home for ever. Together they raised $301.62 by taking in bottles, clearing snow, doing chores, doing what ever they could to raise the money.

Once the girls had the money they bought DOTTIE although, one problem remained, funding her keep! The cost of keeping a horse was not considered, so it was decided that Dottie was to be boarded at KEL- J- DO STABLES.

you can email Dottie: dottie@keljdo.ca

Then the idea was born! Match DOTTIE with the two lovely little girls, and sick children to raise awareness and support for Kids with Cancer.

DOTTIE is now a symbol of hope for sick kids, they talk to her and they tell Dottie all of their problems. Dottie gives the children encouragement to keep on going as some of the treatments are very long and difficult.

Alison and Megan come to every outing with Dottie, meeting sick children and giving them hope as well.

Together with Sponsor Canadian Western Bank we created the Stuffed Toy DOTTIE, this is our major fund raiser. The Dottie fund offers support for sick children providing funds to go to camp, get special equipment, etc.

If you are interested in purchasing a soft toy please contact through email: keljdo@telus.net

Our hope for the stuffed DOTTIE is that every child going through treatments not only can hug the real thing....but own their own DOTTIE.

To view the DOTTIE Poster. PDF

10/01/2012