January 2022: Cathy Johnson
Cathy Johnson
Written by: Pam Smith, Stride Ahead Program Director
For more than 15 years whenever I looked at the volunteer sign up sheet and saw the name Cathy Johnson in her usual slot I knew it was going to be a good day. Cathy volunteered with therapeutic riding programs starting with Chastain Horse Park and then at Stride Ahead after she retired from her job with the State. For as long as I have known her she has been so generous with her time, her horse knowledge and quiet way of getting things done!!
I first met Cathy when she started volunteering at Chastain Horse Park. She would sign up for several days each week and for several hours each day she was there. No one was happier than me when she started volunteering at Stride Ahead when I started teaching here. She split her time between the two programs for a while and then started just coming only to Stride Ahead-luckily we were closer to her home.
She never missed a time she signed up for. Always arriving with a smile, she quietly went about getting tack out, helping with horse grooming and was a masterful horse leader. She was great with the students, the other volunteers and the horses. She was a friend to everyone and was always interested in how they were doing.
Cathy has retired from volunteering and will be sorely missed by all. Her generosity, devotion to our program and her friendship have meant so much to Stride Ahead and to me over the past ten years.
From the bottom of my heart I wish you the best and all I can say is Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!
Thank you, Cathy!
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Cathy and all of our wonderful volunteers who make Stride happen, thank you.
