Main fundraiser photo

Rally 'round Jaime

Jaime Velez was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.  This man who has spent his life helping others now needs our help …

Jaime has been a valued employee at Ironstone Farm for more than 15 years.  A native of Columbia, South America, Jaime came to the United States as a student of Mount Ida College where he studied Equine Sciences and then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Management.  He came to Ironstone Farm in 1999 to engage in community service for school and he quickly became involved in our programs. Jaime served as a valuable volunteer, a coordinator of our daily lesson activities and then, in 2000, got a license to teach horseback riding with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture.  Since then, Jaime has served as a primary instructor at Ironstone, working in various capacities, including teaching 80+ children and adults with and without disabilities each week, supporting our Apprentice Instructor Program and our Equine Encounters for people with cancer and veterans returning from war, and pitching in to help with all our activities for children with special needs.  In addition, Jaime founded and directs a program in his native country - Diplomado de Hipoterapia (Diplomat in Hippotherapy), sponsored by the Riding School of the National Army (Colombia) – where Jaime teaches the use of Hippotherapy to people who work with individuals with special needs. Jaime’s outreach through all of these activities has now changed the lives of hundreds of individuals - helping them to achieve their dreams through the magic of the horse! He is passionate about this mission, and he has devoted his life to making a better life for the people he serves.

Now it is his turn to need help.  A few weeks ago Jaime was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma – an aggressive disease that can travel quickly throughout the body.  After numerous tests, biopsies and surgeries in only three weeks’ time, Jaime started strong doses of chemotherapy on February 4th. This means he cannot work and he cannot do the things required of normal everyday life. His family has gathered from Columbia to support him, and we at Ironstone Farm are doing whatever we can to help Jaime through this difficult time. He needs funding to help him with medical expenses, daily hospital trips and meeting financial demands. He also needs our moral and emotional support – to keep him thinking positively in the weeks ahead.

Friends of Jaime have created this page - intended to inform others of Jaime’s situation so that, should there be a wish to support him in any way, this can provide the mechanism to do so.  Jaime is extremely appreciative of the support he has received so far – cards, flowers and well wishes.  Join all those who have reached out and let’s direct those positive vibes – and whatever else we can - toward helping Jaime beat this terrible disease!
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Donations 

  • Sandra Burke
    • $60 
    • 8 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Button Sales
    • $450 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
  • Ironestone Farm
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 8 yrs
Donate

Organizer

MaryRuth Field Luther
Organizer
Andover, MA

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