Young S-Bred Owner’s Selfless B-Day Act

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Published: January 14, 2018 10:57 am EST

There is one day a year when people are completely justified in being selfish – on their birthdays, of course. People tend to plan their self-indulgent birthday celebrations exactly the way they want them, and rightfully so. That is why it is so remarkable that a 13-year-old harness racing participant is putting others before herself when it comes to her special day.

For the second year in a row, Standardbred horse owner Ellen Carragher of Stratford, Prince Edward Island has opted to not have a traditional birthday party, but will instead host a Skate for Mental Health, which will take place on Sunday, February 11 (from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.) at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown.

Last year’s inaugural edition of the skate raised $9,269, and Carragher is looking to increase that amount this time around. The online auction for the cause will launch on Sunday, February 4. Any funds raised from the skate and auction will go directly to the PEI division of the Canadian Mental Health Association.


Ellen Carragher (second from right), pictured making a sizeable donation to the PEI division of the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2017

While in communication with Standardbred Canada, Carragher, an anxiety sufferer, said, “I am very appreciative of the overwhelming support I received last year from family, friends, community members and businesses that helped me not only to raise money for this very worthy cause, but also helped me to raise awareness.”

To visit the wepage for the online auction, click here. To view the Facebook page for the skate, click here.

“My goal is to raise awareness of, and money for, Mental Health,” Carragher has explained on the auction page. “I want to remind people who are also struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues that they are not alone, and the importance for us to keep talking about it. I personally know how hard it is to talk about this in front of people, and I also know how awful it feels to keep it inside and not talk about it at all.”

Carragher has put together a sponsorship package for those that are interested. For further information, please contact [email protected].

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