The Team Heads to Maryland Tonight on Extreme Makeover Home Edition

The Team Heads to Maryland Tonight on Extreme Makeover Home Edition 1/20/08

JANUARY 20

"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" FULFILLS THE WISH OF A CERTIFIED THERAPEUTIC RIDING INSTRUCTOR TO COMPLETE RENOVATION OF A RIDING FACILITY THAT HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The Luther family of Port Deposit, Maryland was happy to receive the exciting news that Ty and the designers will be rebuilding the family's home and riding facility in just seven days, in a special two-hour episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Renee Sherrard-Luther grew up on a 156-acre farm known as Rolling Hills Ranch. When she was two, her father passed away and the farm was left in the care of her hardworking mother, who hosted families in need. Dedicated to the farm and helping her mother, Renee had a strong love for riding and helping those in need, especially children. Majoring in Equine Studies and volunteering at a therapeutic riding program, she later became an instructor and opened her own facility and non-profit organization, the Freedom Hills Riding Program, which is now in its 25th year of operation.

The organization has helped thousands of people enjoy and benefit from their therapeutic riding lessons, including a roster of students who suffer from a wide range of physical problems that include brain injuries, broken necks, autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental issues. Renee has also been involved with her community's Special Olympics programs in Equestrian, helping many of its participants win gold medals. She's accomplished much for her community, all the while facing personal tragedy: her husband, Carl, was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away a few months ago.

On her own, Renee now has to raise and support her kids, in addition to maintaining her riding facility. Struggling with finances, she fears she will have to close the facility, which she had promised her husband she would renovate. In addition her house has many problems, including foundation issues, lack of insulation, unsafe windows and doors and a kitchen with broken appliances.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is coming to Maryland to help a woman who has helped so many others, and to provide her a new home, a new riding facility and to fulfill her husband's last wish.

While Ty and the designers, local builder Clark Turner Signature Homes and the hundreds of volunteers and workers are rebuilding their home, the Luther family will go on vacation to Adventure By Disney to Italy.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Paige Hemmis, Rib Hillis, Ed Sanders and Eduardo Xol. The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It's executive-produced by Denise Cramsey. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

This episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.

Source: ABC Press Release