Emily Crews and Clint Allen • Courtesy of the NCHAThe National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is teaming up with Western Wishes as the charity celebrates its 20th anniversary at the 2014 NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas. Joining Western Wishes on Dec. 13, Open finals night, will be guest honoree Emily Crews, 17, of Texarkana, Texas.
Crews, who was diagnosed with a rare, stage 2 brain cancer in 2012, is an avid equestrian whose wish is to ride a cutting horse. Through the efforts of the NCHA, Quarter Horse News, Western Wishes and NCHA Hall of Fame Rider Clint Allen, Crews will be doing just that in the Will Rogers Coliseum.
Crews will be given the opportunity to learn to ride a cutting horse in the months prior to the NCHA Futurity aboard one of David and Stacie McDavid’s show horses at their Weatherford ranch. On Dec. 13, she will ride to the herd among the most respected horsemen and women of the performance horse industry as the last horse in the first set of the NCHA Futurity Open finals.
“Emily is an incredible young girl who showcases amazing faith and perseverance,” said Allen. “I speak for myself and the McDavids when I say we are honored to be a part of making her wish come true.”
Crews first learned about her condition two years ago after experiencing a seizure. An MRI showed three inoperable tumors on her brain. Crews continues to lead as normal a life as possible, and said she is grateful for the opportunities that her involvement with Western Wishes has brought her. Her main goal is to inspire others with similar challenges by sharing her story.
“God has a plan. He does, and I believe that. My life is a story for others. I can choose for it to be positive or not. It’s up to me. God gave us a free will. We can choose,” Crews said.
Prior to Crews’ Futurity run, a presentation outlining her courageous journey will include an auction for of a piece of artwork that Crews created. The proceeds will go to Western Wishes and the Crews family, to help with medical expenses such as travel to doctor appointments and alternative treatments they have sought that insurance does not cover.
Tickets to the NCHA Futurity finals can be purchased online.
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