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MEET THE PEOPLE IN OUR PAGES

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There's no doubt that retired racehorse Duke and the other rescued animals of Runaway Farm (page 60) helped Christopher Leighton recover from heart surgery. Now Chris finds joy in watching visitors interact with them. “Animals have such a natural healing effect,” he says. “When people tell us they come here to meet the horses, pigs or goats, but they leave feeling more at peace, it’s just remarkable to me.” Although the farm isn’t open to the public, Chris and his wife, Jen, set aside certain days to host fundraising events and welcome volunteers and visitors from area schools and the local chapter of The Arc, an organization that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We recently had a nonverbal student use her voice for the first time when she was with Tally the horse,” Chris says. “We were all in awe!” Runaway Farm is now home to eight pigs, seven goats, two horses, a miniature cow, several ducks and a bunny. To support the farm, sponsor an animal or buy merchandise, visit linktr.ee/runawayfarm.

It's like I hit a hole in one!" That's how former governor of Wisconsin Marty Schreiber (Lessons From Elaine, page 34) describes the feeling he gets when people tell him that his book, My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping and Surviving as an Alzheimer's Caregiver, helped them. Since his wife's death in 2022, he has continued to advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers and people with dementia.