Page 20 - Discover SPRING 2022

Riding for Tyler CONTINUED

educating herself. “She doesn’t do it lightly – she’s all with the administrative details.
in.”
“All this help we get from this community is
Tyler excels at Math, and Mike admits that just… incredible,” Mike says. “People really look out
when he needs help with Math homework, Kim is the for each other here. I love this place.”
go-to parent. She also keeps track of his medications
This year’s Riding for Tyler will feature a
and doctor appointments, leaving nothing to chance.
stable of horses and ponies that will be brought
As uncertain as his future might be, Tyler often in for children to ride. Teachers from Dudley and
changes his stated ambitions. He loves to laugh and the Middle School, including the Middle School
joke around with Mike, even if it’s in the doctor’s Principal, will sit still for the pie throwing, as is the
office. Mike thinks that he is a very funny guy, and Pastor of Mt. Ivy Church, and also his wife and son.
believes that he would excel at Mike hopes to include
acting. some local police
officers, but at the time
Kim is a woman on a
of this writing, that has
mission. She saw the need to
yet to become official.
raise awareness about FOP,
and also to generate funding Donnie Shaver
for Tyler’s future medical of SoundDawgs plans
needs. To that end, Kim and to set up a stage and
Mike started an event in sound system for live
their front yard, which they music from a rock
call “Riding for Tyler”. Since band, and they will also
it is no longer safe for Tyler have two professional
to ride his horse, they invite face painters, dancing,
other kids to come and ride for bouncy houses, and
him. They played games, and raffles for prizes. Food
gave horse rides to kids with and craft vendors will
the help of some volunteers. also be on hand.
A highlight of the even was
“Admission is
the pie throwing event.
free,” Mike reminds
Tyler’s teachers from Dudley
us. “You can come and
Elementary School agreed to
have fun all day without
sit still and allow the kids to
spending a dime.”
throw pies in their faces. It
has been reported that in at
His desire
least one or two of those cases,
to raise awareness
the teachers felt compelled to
is sparked by the
return fire.
importance for people
to be able to recognize
Mike is so overwhelmed by the strong sense of
FOP. Those who may have it and not be aware of it
community at SML, that he decided to try to make it
need to know to avoid certain medical procedures
a bigger event, and at the same time make it just a fun
which would FOP would make worse.
time for everyone. This year, Riding for Tyler will be
held at Crazy Horse Marina, in the large field by the
For more information about FOP,
water.
visit the International FOP Associations
Pat and Chris Bechtler, the managers of the
website: www.ifopa.org
marina, leaped at the chance to host the event, and
have helped Mike to organize it, and helped Kim

18 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SPRING 2022