This month, Black Press Media has teamed up with and BraveFace to help grant wishes, . Heresa国际传媒檚 one wish that was granted through the Make-A-Wish B.C. and Yukon chaptersa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 wish to have a horse riding gear shopping spreesa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� January 2017

Sometimes the most deserving people are the last to accept help or an exciting opportunity for fear of taking it away from others. Hillary, 17, was one of them.

Hillary knew all about about The Make-A-Wish Foundation. She knew, as a child living with Cystic Fibrosis that she qualified for a wish. Yet she declined the opportunity on several occasions.

That all changed two years ago. Hillarysa国际传媒檚 mother passed away, bringing about a shift in the teensa国际传媒檚 perspective about her life. The next time she was asked if she would like to be referred to Make-A-Wish, her answer turned into a yes.

Hillary makes the trek from her home in the Okanagan to Vancouver four times a year for hospital visits. In between, she seeks out her own therapies to manage her Cystic Fibrosis, and horse back riding is her favourite.

A self-described sa国际传媒渉orse nut.sa国际传媒� Hillary can be found riding up to five days a week. Hillarysa国际传媒檚 father, Tim, sees it as essential to maintaining her health.

sa国际传媒淪he probably spends five days a week with her horse in Kelowna,sa国际传媒� said Tim. sa国际传媒淗orses have been really good for Hillary. They are very therapeutic, both physically and mentally.sa国际传媒�

Hillary didnsa国际传媒檛 take long to settle on her wish: A horse riding gear shopping spree. The Lower Mainland community of Langley answered the Make-A-Wish Foundationsa国际传媒檚 call for assistance, putting together not just a shopping spree (which included a beautiful custom saddle, pictured on the back of her horse, Zoe), but also a Vancouver hotel stay, limousine ride and a private riding lesson with renowned dressage rider and coach Wendy Christoff at High Point Equestrian.

sa国际传媒淣othing compares to riding,sa国际传媒� said Hillary. sa国际传媒淚 would really, really like to thank everyone involved, who helped to make this experience what it was.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭hroughout my earlier clinic visits as a child, I was advised to stop riding because of the sa国际传媒榰nsanitary environmentsa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒榙usty haysa国际传媒� but Isa国际传媒檝e got to tell you, riding is the best solution to any problem. Horses have been my therapist through my darkest moments, pride during my happiest, and happiness throughout my entire life. Itsa国际传媒檚 no secret that we become overwhelmed about our conditions and what the future entails for us and our family, but I encourage people to do what makes them happy. Health is priority, but happiness is not far behind.sa国际传媒�

Critically ill kids put on a Brave Face every day. Now you can, too, in support of Make-A-Wish.

Black Press Media and have come together to support children facing life-threatening conditions, and we invite you to join us in helping childrensa国际传媒檚 wishes come true. !

By purchasing a pack of three masks designed and manufactured right here in British Columbia for children, youth and adults, yousa国际传媒檒l be supporting the .