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Family to ride for diabetes research
- By Martha Goudey
- Published 06/23/2008
- Front Page
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Selah resident, Gloria Joraleman, grew up on horses and then taught her twin daughters, Star Joraleman and Brandy Wilde, how to ride.
The twins, now 25, grew up on horses. Brandy is the Wenas Pony Express 4-H Leader. Star still barrel races and participated Saturday in gaming exercises that qualify riders for the Puyallup State Fair.
Brandy’s daughter Autumn Wilde, 6, rides, as does Star’s son, Kaden Radillo, 5. Brandy’s two-year-old, Wynter, is next.
Now, the family will ride together Saturday in a ten-mile trail ride to honor a friend and to raise money for diabetes research.
The ride has special meaning to Joraleman because the Oregon Trail Diabetes Association and the Blue Mountain Humane Association are dedicating the ride to Gary Hartsock, who died in January of complications from muscular dystrophy and diabetes.
“He was my adopted brother, my best friend,” she said.
Joraleman spent many summers with the Hartsocks in Joseph, Oregon while she was growing up.
Hartsock was born in Yakima in 1962 and attended third grade in Yakima. His parents once owned Selah Dry Cleaners. In 1971 the family moved to Joseph, Oregon and he attended school in Enterprise and graduated from Joseph High School.
In grade school Hartsock had problems with balance and coordination. In 1978 Hartsock was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease, Freidreich’s Ataxia. He also became a Type 1 diabetic. Due to a spinal fusion resulting from his disease, he was confined to a wheelchair.
Over the years Hartsock raised more than $10,000 for the Trail Ride to benefit diabetes research.
Joraleman said Hartsock’s purpose in life was to help other people.
“He rode his motorized wheelchair throughout La Grande raising money,” she said.
In the trail ride flyer, it said that each year Hartsock looked forward to bringing his collections to the mountains and turning the money in and then having breakfast while watching the horse riders come down the trail.
Joraleman said Hartsock was a photographer when he went to school in Portland, and showed his work after moving to La Grande.
Joraleman is seeking sponsors and can be contacted at 697-9595.
The twins, now 25, grew up on horses. Brandy is the Wenas Pony Express 4-H Leader. Star still barrel races and participated Saturday in gaming exercises that qualify riders for the Puyallup State Fair.
Brandy’s daughter Autumn Wilde, 6, rides, as does Star’s son, Kaden Radillo, 5. Brandy’s two-year-old, Wynter, is next.
Now, the family will ride together Saturday in a ten-mile trail ride to honor a friend and to raise money for diabetes research.
The ride has special meaning to Joraleman because the Oregon Trail Diabetes Association and the Blue Mountain Humane Association are dedicating the ride to Gary Hartsock, who died in January of complications from muscular dystrophy and diabetes.
“He was my adopted brother, my best friend,” she said.
Joraleman spent many summers with the Hartsocks in Joseph, Oregon while she was growing up.
Hartsock was born in Yakima in 1962 and attended third grade in Yakima. His parents once owned Selah Dry Cleaners. In 1971 the family moved to Joseph, Oregon and he attended school in Enterprise and graduated from Joseph High School.
In grade school Hartsock had problems with balance and coordination. In 1978 Hartsock was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease, Freidreich’s Ataxia. He also became a Type 1 diabetic. Due to a spinal fusion resulting from his disease, he was confined to a wheelchair.
Over the years Hartsock raised more than $10,000 for the Trail Ride to benefit diabetes research.
Joraleman said Hartsock’s purpose in life was to help other people.
“He rode his motorized wheelchair throughout La Grande raising money,” she said.
In the trail ride flyer, it said that each year Hartsock looked forward to bringing his collections to the mountains and turning the money in and then having breakfast while watching the horse riders come down the trail.
Joraleman said Hartsock was a photographer when he went to school in Portland, and showed his work after moving to La Grande.
Joraleman is seeking sponsors and can be contacted at 697-9595.