Pretoria woman inundated with generosity after suffering devastating kick from horse
South Africans around the country, and the world, have responded with so much generosity after hearing about the plight of Pretoria stable manager, Marissa Barnard (30). The kind-hearted stable manager from Donkerhoek suffered a devastating kick to the face while lunging a horse at her workplace, The Burgh Equestrian Estate, on 30 November 2020. The […]
South Africans around the country, and the world, have responded with so much generosity after hearing about the plight of Pretoria stable manager, Marissa Barnard (30).
The kind-hearted stable manager from Donkerhoek suffered a devastating kick to the face while lunging a horse at her workplace, The Burgh Equestrian Estate, on 30 November 2020.
The accident left her with serious injuries to her upper jaw, nose, and sinuses, causing her severe pain and difficulty breathing.
Without medical aid, Marissa initially received emergency treatment at a state hospital, but she is still in desperate need of specialised treatment as the shattered bones in her face have healed in the wrong position, causing chronic sinusitis and leaving her in constant agony.
Needing R50,000 to undergo a procedure at The Nose Clinic, which does not include any external cosmetic work, Marissa’s mom, Ansie Barnard, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy in February, appealing to the public to support her daughter.
The Burgh Equestrian Estate also donated R30 000 to Marissa privately to assist her with her medical needs.
We’re pleased to announce that as of today, 27 April, Marissa’s campaign not only reached its R50K target BUT has surpassed its target, raising over R70,000 with donors including family, friends and strangers.
Showing how loved Marissa is, one anonymous donor said: “Much love and I hope everyone can help you reach your goal. I just want to say thank you for all you have done for me as an individual and all those around you.”
Passionate about caring for horses, Marissa returned to work shortly after the accident, and has remained positive, despite her traumatic ordeal. She explains:
“This was a freak accident, with a loved competition horse. I don’t hold blame for the horse or the situation, even though the repercussions are still bad. Horses are still absolutely my passion, and seeing riders accomplish their best and overcome obstacles in life are what I am here for. I really hope to get this operation done so I can get back in the saddle and enjoy riding again.”
Support this campaign on BackaBuddy:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/
