Zink the Zebra Rides Again

The sign in the photo below reads "zebra," and yet the rocking horse in the foreground doesn't match up - instead of stripes it has dots. So why call it a zebra? Therein lies the story.

Back in 1993, nine-year-old Kelly Weil spent the year battling bone cancer. Prior to that she enjoyed swimming, horseback riding, and visits to the zoo. Once she began chemotherapy, hair loss, and finally, confinement to a wheelchair, her appearance changed for the worse. This led to hurtful teasing by schoolmates.

After she passed away later that year, Kelly's parents found a story she wrote. It was about Zink, a zebra that was born with spots instead of stripes, which caused other zebras to shun it. Realizing the pain his daughter must have suffered, Kelly's father, Les Weil, began the Zink the Zebra Foundation. It's mission: to promote the education of children in understanding, respect, compassion, and acceptance.

At that point, a Girl Scout leader in southwest Texas turned to woodworker John Vandenbosch, a member of the Woodworkers Club of El Paso, to build a spotted rocking zebra that could serve as a teaching tool, emphasizing that it's OK to be different. John consented.

Over the last decade, thanks to Weil's persistence, the Zink the Zebra teaching program spread nationwide, being taught in 307 of 315 Girl Scout councils, as well as in some public schools.

Truly, Zink rides again.

Grace Rocha of the Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, receives a zebra rocking horse from woodworker John Vandenbosch.