New Helmet Campaign T-shirts Added to Courtney King-Dye Fund eBay Store

Online store established by Courtney King-Dye's sponsor SUCCEED continues to raise funds and awareness in support of injured dressage star.

April 27, 2010 — The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store is now featuring new helmet-wearing campaign T-shirts, designed by Jeri Bryant, a single mom and dressage fan based in southern California. The T-shirts feature the slogan “Strap One On – Everyone’s Doing It” in an eye-catching graphic treatment.

The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay store was established last month by King-Dye’s long-time sponsor SUCCEED? Digestive Conditioning Program? to help raise funds to help offset medical and other related expenses for King-Dye and her family. The dressage star, 32, was seriously injured in early March when the horse she was schooling stumbled. King-Dye, who was not wearing a helmet at the time, suffered a skull fracture and remained in a coma until March 30. She is expected to face a long recovery involving physical, occupational and speech therapy. The eBay store can be found at http://stores.ebay.com/Courtney-King-Dye-Medical-Fund.

“I wanted to not only help Courtney, but also raise awareness of how important it is for equestrians to wear helmets anytime they are on a horse,” said Bryant of the helmet T-shirt campaign.

The Equestrian Medical Safety Association (EMSA) states that head injuries account for approximately 60 percent of deaths resulting from equestrian accidents. The EMSA also promotes the use of helmets, noting that “properly fitted ASTM/SEI certified helmets can prevent death and reduce the severity of head injuries sustained while riding.”

The Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund eBay Store has generated more than $8,000 in sales since launching in early March. Freedom Health, the makers of SUCCEED and operators of the online store, is aiming to reach at least $10,000 in sales by the end of April. Current listings include offerings from Dav boots, Troxel Helmets, HorseShoesByDesign totes, Shires Equestrian Clothing and various items of jewelry, plus paintings of Courtney and her horses Mythilus and Idocus by King-Dye’s mother, Kellison King. A helmet campaign T-shirt autographed by leading equestrians including Karen O’Connor, Gina Miles and William Fox-Pitt will shortly be added to the eBay store.

“This is extremely important,” said John Hall, president of Freedom Health. “We are all members of an equestrian community, and we are compelled to do what we can for Courtney and her family. We encourage everyone to participate in the effort by either donating items to the eBay store, or bidding on them.”

SUCCEED? will continue to operate the eBay store so long as interest remains, aiming to provide funds to King-Dye and her family for costs not covered by insurance and other non-medical expenses associated with her injury and recovery. Individuals and retailers interested in donating items to the eBay store, or selling the helmet campaign T-shirt in their stores should email Lyndsey White at lwhite@freedomhealthllc.com for details.

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