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Even better, you can give her a great birthday present by making your donation of $20.00 to the Equestrian Aid Foundation and Robert Dover will match it. It’s that easy and will be really fun and do good for others in need at the same time.  What could be better than that?  So, PLEASE tune in, call in, and help make Mary’s Birthday the best one ever! Robert Dover

I am not afraid to say I am 60 years old today (ok so I did do a little photoshop work on this picture). I made it. This year I went through a life changing experience. A horrible accident June 26 almost took my life.  I had a wreck on my 4 wheeler, and 15 broken bones, three weeks in the hospital and three months recuperating, and miraculously well enough to cover the 16 gruelling days of the Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games.

I do not even know what this final bill was, and EAF's angel of applicants Janise Gray called the hospital to ask if I needed any financial help. From the very beginning, I realized how lucky I was.  Not just to be alive, and know I would heal, but that because of my job with Markel, I had excellent insurance coverage. As a long time board member of the Equestrian Aid Foundation, I was all too aware of how so many others are not as lucky. I know I healed so quickly because I did not have the stress of how my bills would be paid. On my birthday, Tuesday night, November 9, 2010 on doversworld.com and on WBZT (AM1230) for everyone who calls in and makes a donation of $20 or more, Robert Dover will add another $20.

Most of our readers have seen our reports on the Equestrian Aid Foundation over the years. It is a group of horse people helping horse people, like my friend the late Debbie Atkinson who passed away after a two year struggle from a severe spinal cord injury. EAF was able to help with Debbie’s home health care after a tragic fall during an event. I have been involved with this organization since its inception 15 years ago and am committed more than ever since my close call to doing good in our equestrian neighborhood. Our annual fundraiser held at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby raised over $17,000 last year, and plans are shaping up this year for the March 3 event. There are many more fundraisers in the works for 2011, beginning with the Triathlon with a Twist - the new Sidelines Tetrathlon, January 30. The EAF is the charitable beneficiary of the Lusitano Collection Auction Feb. 23-26, both events being held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.

Our event at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby “Inspection Reception” March 3 will show once again the support from the Dressage community. A live and silent auction will feature exclusive products and services from our community as well as celebrity items found only at this event. Kim and Fred Boyer of Hampton Green Farm and Cafe Fredo will be donating the catering, and Rene Isler has already made a substantial gift to the party.

I have everything I could ever need: my life, my health, a great company to work for. My incredible employees kept my business running smoothly while I was busy healing. My loving husband JJ. Hathaway and wonderful sister, Nancy Phelps were always close by. The power of prayer was a very real experience, I could feel the strength from all the love and support from all my friends, readers, and Facebook buddies. I feel forever changed from this experience, for the better. This is the best birthday yet! Please give to this wonderful organization.

Photos: Call in to Doversworld.com tonight and wish me Happy Birthday. Please donate to Equestrian Aid and for every donation of $20 or more Robert Dover will put in $20....Mary Phelps
This was almost the last photo of me taken, I like the other one on top (after the accident at the WEG much better!)
Caregiver Christy Warrington, Mary Phelps, Debbie Atkinson and EAF's applicant review angel Janise Gray with Debbie at the Kentucky Three Day Event