Who would have thought a few years later I would be teaching and running the only accredited vaulting team in Tennessee? She laughed!
Joanne has rearranged her beautiful farm around the needs of the vaulting school and her students. She worked, worked, scraped, created, and worked to provide training barrels, horses, harness, everything necessary for productive lessons. Right down to the flower boxes for each horses stall!
“It is all I can do to keep up with the progress and ever increasing talent of the children, Joanne said.
She recalled how excited and impressed her kids were when the Olympic gold medal recipient in vaulting came to visit. She gushed about how inspiring and encouraging it was. Joanne went on to say how the childrens' families worked long hours to provide the necessities for their families. As I was listening to her, it hit me – like a slap in the face! This dear woman is not charging for her lessons or for anything! In the middle of her telling about how talented and how diligent her students are, I burst out. “Joanne, how do you do it!?” She answered, “Well, my son helps so much!” Quickly she told how he cleans stalls, moves horses in and out of the pasture, gets hay, and, and, and…Yes, but I mean, how do you afford this!? “OH” (her face showed surprise, almost startled, because I realized she was supporting everything herself) “Oh, I have had a good job most of my life and we just keep at it, with blessings.”
As I traveled home, thoughts of what an angel Joanne is filled my mind. I wonder if she knows how many girls she has kept from losing hope, how many children learned what bounty discipline can bring to them, what laughter and joy and hope comes from nurturing guidance Joanne patiently persistently provides. There are many children learning from Joanne and her horses. Lessons that will help them throughout their lives and bring them opportunities and the strength to pursue them!
I am asking on Joanne’s behalf (because she has not thought to ask) that you help her out. The biggest hurdle for her is to fund transportation to competitions. They want to go July 1st to compete in Virginia (and a couple more this summer if possible) However, hiring a transporter and the trip itself will cost nearly $1000. Please help out as much and as soon as possible! Help this determined team realize their goals and a chance to show off how hard they have been working!
Submitted by an admirer for:
Monroe County Vaulting Team – Madisonville, TN
Please Donate generously here for Joanne Martinsen:
or Call: (423) 420-9948
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