MIDDLETOWN—The Monmouth County Park System and its partner Special People United to Ride (SPUR) will host a screening of the award-winning film “Riding My Way Back” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Sunnyside Equestrian Center, 628 Middletown-Lincroft Road.
The new, short documentary tells the story of how therapeutic riding helped a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury begin to heal.
A suggested donation of $5 can be given at the door.
The film chronicles one soldier’s journey back from the brink of suicide. In 2010, Staff Sgt. Aaron Heliker returned from multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At his most desperate and isolated, on 42 medications and suicidal, Heliker is introduced to the unlikeliest of saviors: a horse named Fred. Through caring for Fred, Heliker begins the difficult process of reconnecting to the world around him and healing the invisible wounds of war that nearly defeated him.
While “Riding My Way Back” had its premiere at the GI Film Festival 2014 in May and won The Founders’ Choice Award, the producers are looking at Veteran’s Week 2014 as their national launch, premiering the movie at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., and at more than 75 equine centers across the country.
Producers and directors, Oscar nominee Robin Fryday, Peter Rosenbaum and Richie Goldman, have launched an ambitious program, The Riding My Way Back Film Project. Engaging PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) centers nationwide, the film will be screened at riding centers, universities, and mental health centers during Veteran’s Week 2014.
For more information on “Riding My Way Back,” please visit www.ridingmywayback.com.
Additional information about SPUR is available by visiting www.spuronline.org or calling 732-224-1367 ext. 4#. Information about the Sunnyside Equestrian Center and the Monmouth County Park System can be found online at www.monmouthcountyparks.com of by calling 732-842-4000. Those with hearing impairment may call the Monmouth County Park System’s TTY/TDD number at 711.
