I'm a father of three great kids - Jordan, Amanda and Breanna. Jordan died in November, 2008. His story is told on my own website (www.ADanceintheRain.com) - the most important part of his story is to PLEASE have your children's heart tested. Annual physicals aren't enough. Sports physicals aren't enough. For the price of a co-pay, you may find a heart issue you were never aware your child has. We found out the hard way from a young man who ate healthy, was an honor student, was involved in sports and had just been named all-star regional goalie in soccer and who hunted, fished and excercised most of the days of his young life. He died at 18 years and 5 days old, having just received his graduation pictures.

I've loved animals all my life, having raised hamsters, birds, dogs and cats from a young age. My life changed 5 years ago when I stopped saying,  "Someday I want to ride a horse..." to a realization that if I don't stop saying and start doing, that it was time to stop saying it. A business colleague owned horses and agreed to take me for a ride that would've tested a seasoned rider - and somehow I stayed on and enjoyed that first harrowing ride. Turned out I was a natural in the saddle. I couldn't get enough riding time - I went from begging to go riding on friend's horses, to leasing a horse - which still didn't give me enough time in the saddle  - to buying my first horse, a Tennessee Walker named Rain.

And then came a little 9 month old colt we would come to know as WindChill. Windchill changed our lives. His story you more than likely already know if you're reading this. Windchill's faith in us and amazing resilience are something that indelibly changed my outlook on life. The problems that trouble us all on a day to day basis suddenly didn't seem to big anymore. They still don't. Windchill believed - he believed he could live, he believed he could stand and he believed he could walk again. He believed in us. He had a faith that made his eyes gleam. He made more of a 1% chance to live than any of us could ever have imagined. In return he taught us all to hope and to believe.

I'm part of this non-profit organization because of how he touched my life and heart. Ultimately Windchill died because of the damage caused by the starvation and neglect,  but he lived as long as he did because of his commitment to fight to live. I'm committed to carrying on that fight and turn the pain of his loss, and the beauty of his memory,  into changing the attitudes that let it happen and the laws that allow such attitudes to go unpunished.

On a professional basis (the day job that supports my nights and weekends job) I'm the CEO of a healthcare network, and executive director of a charitable foundation affiliated with the network. I volunteer with several area non-profits and serve on the board of directors of a number of community organizations. While all are important to me - WindChill's Legacy is personal. Those that live in wanton disregard for other living being's health and spirit,  and destroy those things through abuse and neglect should be afraid. Be very afraid. We're coming. And we're bringing the herd who heard that first cry in the wind with us.

Thanks for teaching us the important things in life Windchill. You will never be forgotten.