Twelve years ago, the Dunaway family participated in their first-ever American Heart Association Beach Ride; never imagining the ride would one day benefit their own family. In 2012, Jenny Dunaway Moore’s son was born with a coronary heart defect. Decades of research, funded by the American Heart Association, made it possible for Noah to have corrective surgery and leave the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit just two days post-surgery—at just nine days old. To celebrate his first birthday and the anniversary of his surgery, Noah made his first trip to the Beach Ride in 2013.Now the Dunaways, the Moores, and the Pendleton Area Saddle Club ride each year in honor of Noah. This fall, “Team Noah” will join 2,000 other horse enthusiasts from across the United States for the 34th Annual American Heart Association Beach Ride held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at Lakewood Camping Resort, November 4 – 8. Event participants camp in an oceanfront campground with their horses for 4 nights and 5 days. Throughout the week, riders will explore more than twenty miles of pristine Atlantic Coast seashore on horseback.
Riders can also shop the exhibition show, attend educational seminars, place bids on silent auction items, watch the karaoke competition, enter their horses into a costume contest and parade, and light lanterns during a survivor and memorial tribute, all for a worthy cause. Cowgirl magazine brand directors, Cynthia Burke and Callie Tice will participate in the ride and represent Cowgirl as a sponsor.
To learn more about the American Heart Association Beach Ride, or hear more of Noah’s story, visit ahabeachride.org.
Jenny Dunaway Moore and son Noah.Photo by Amslee Agency
