How something bad can be changed into something great!
Last Sunday, Patti, a good friend and volunteer of Team Ricki offered to transport the surfboard Ricochet uses when she surfs with kids/people with disabilities & wounded warriors to the beach. We were filming a segment for ESPN, and Ricochet was to surf with several individuals.
When Patti went to her car to get the board, she pretty much freaked out… it wasn’t there. She was white as a ghost as she delivered the news to me. She was frantically trying to figure out what could have happened. She and a couple other volunteers jumped in her car to re-trace her path & look for it. They returned about an hour later… no board to be found.
One of the many things I’ve learned on this journey with Ricochet is “things happen for a reason”. And that’s exactly what I told Patti. There was some reason we were no longer meant to use that board. Fortunately for that particular day, one of the camera men had a board we were able to use.
The board that was lost was a 13’ SurfTech soft top board. We need to use a soft/foam board so Ricochet can grip it. SurfTech had very graciously donated the board to us four years ago, so they were the first people I thought of to replace it. I was embarrassed to tell them that we lost the board, but I knew there was nothing else I could say. I was hoping they could donate another board. Unfortunately, they are in pretty bad financial straits so the best they could do was give me a discount, and charge me $595 for an $800 board. I was grateful.
But, I didn’t have an extra $595 lying around. And even though several of Ricochet’s Facebook fans offered to pay for it, my initial reaction was NO! We never take anything for ourselves, and I certainly didn’t want to this time either.
But then, I got a few comments on pictures I posted from the day of surfing. They were from the parents of a couple of the kids…
Gina’s daddy is in Afghanistan, but took the time to comment…
"I'm Gina's dad. Thank you very much for surfing with her again. She loves it! I only wish I could have been there to see it in person."
When Patti went to her car to get the board, she pretty much freaked out… it wasn’t there. She was white as a ghost as she delivered the news to me. She was frantically trying to figure out what could have happened. She and a couple other volunteers jumped in her car to re-trace her path & look for it. They returned about an hour later… no board to be found.
One of the many things I’ve learned on this journey with Ricochet is “things happen for a reason”. And that’s exactly what I told Patti. There was some reason we were no longer meant to use that board. Fortunately for that particular day, one of the camera men had a board we were able to use.
The board that was lost was a 13’ SurfTech soft top board. We need to use a soft/foam board so Ricochet can grip it. SurfTech had very graciously donated the board to us four years ago, so they were the first people I thought of to replace it. I was embarrassed to tell them that we lost the board, but I knew there was nothing else I could say. I was hoping they could donate another board. Unfortunately, they are in pretty bad financial straits so the best they could do was give me a discount, and charge me $595 for an $800 board. I was grateful.
But, I didn’t have an extra $595 lying around. And even though several of Ricochet’s Facebook fans offered to pay for it, my initial reaction was NO! We never take anything for ourselves, and I certainly didn’t want to this time either.
But then, I got a few comments on pictures I posted from the day of surfing. They were from the parents of a couple of the kids…
Gina’s daddy is in Afghanistan, but took the time to comment…
"I'm Gina's dad. Thank you very much for surfing with her again. She loves it! I only wish I could have been there to see it in person."
And West's mom commenting on one of the pictures of Ricochet surfing with him.
"This pic means more than anyone will ever know. When West was first diagnosed with Autism we were faced with so many challenges. One of the hardest ones was that he could not be off the ground. His therapists tried and failed to put him on swings and devices, but he would scream. The lack of control was terrifying. So to see his feet off the ground and him letting Ricochet take control is inspiring. West has come so far."
Those comments made me realize that I had to swallow my pride, and ask for help. Ricochet needed a surfboard to continue her work. To continue her magic. This was about the kids with special needs, people with disabilities, and wounded warriors… not about me.
So, with that I created a fundraiser to raise the $595 to purchase the Surf Tech surfboard. Within ½ hour, $595 was raised!! Ricochet could surf again thanks to these amazing people that came together for the greater good.
"This pic means more than anyone will ever know. When West was first diagnosed with Autism we were faced with so many challenges. One of the hardest ones was that he could not be off the ground. His therapists tried and failed to put him on swings and devices, but he would scream. The lack of control was terrifying. So to see his feet off the ground and him letting Ricochet take control is inspiring. West has come so far."
Those comments made me realize that I had to swallow my pride, and ask for help. Ricochet needed a surfboard to continue her work. To continue her magic. This was about the kids with special needs, people with disabilities, and wounded warriors… not about me.
So, with that I created a fundraiser to raise the $595 to purchase the Surf Tech surfboard. Within ½ hour, $595 was raised!! Ricochet could surf again thanks to these amazing people that came together for the greater good.
So, in the spirit of allowing what is meant to be… to be, I posted that the $595 goal was met, but if people still wanted to donate & be part of the surfboard initiative, I would allocate the funds to Ricochet’s current fundraiser, “Save a dog, save a warrior”. Donations continued to come in.
As I write this blog, $3270 has been raised! $514 is going toward the surfboard, and $2756 is going to the “Save a dog, save a warrior” fundraiser.
Not only did an amazing group of people come together to help purchase a surfboard so kids/people can continue surfing with Ricochet. But, this group of people have now saved the lives of a dog and a warrior!
As I write this blog, $3270 has been raised! $514 is going toward the surfboard, and $2756 is going to the “Save a dog, save a warrior” fundraiser.
Not only did an amazing group of people come together to help purchase a surfboard so kids/people can continue surfing with Ricochet. But, this group of people have now saved the lives of a dog and a warrior!
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We only have $1614 left to raise to reach our $10,000 goal for the "Save a dog, save a warrior" campaign, and then a dog will be rescued from a shelter, be trained to be a service dog, and be placed with a veteran with PTSD. Every 65 minutes a veteran commits suicide, but YOU have changed the course for one. |
The bad luck of a surfboard flying off a vehicle turned into so much goodness. If Surftech would have just given me a new surfboard, I would have never had the opportunity to ask for help. If I wouldn’t have asked for help, scores of people wouldn’t have donated. If I would have stopped posting at $595, we wouldn’t have raised additional funds. If additional funds weren’t raised, we wouldn’t be able to save the lives of a dog and a veteran.
So, to Patti… thank you for losing our surfboard. To SurfTech… thank you for helping us realize asking for help is ok. To all our donors… thank you for wanting to help even after the goal had been met. To all the parents & family members of those Ricochet surfs with… thank you for trusting my dog.
Next time something bad happens in your life… try and see the potential for goodness. Try and turn your tragedy into triumph. Ricochet taught me how to do this, and I hope this mutt'amorphosis will teach you too.
Judy
If you'd like to donate to the surfboard initiative & have your funds go to the "Save a dog, save a warrior campaign, please click here.
PUPDATE: The pawmazing SurfTech gave us an additional discount on the board, so the total purchase price is $514. The additional $81 was allocated to the "Save a dog, save a warrior" fundraiser.
We created “Team Ricki” stickers that each surfboard donor will receive. A sticker will also go on the surfboard to represent the connection between Ricochet, the board, the donors, and of course those that ride with her.
So, to Patti… thank you for losing our surfboard. To SurfTech… thank you for helping us realize asking for help is ok. To all our donors… thank you for wanting to help even after the goal had been met. To all the parents & family members of those Ricochet surfs with… thank you for trusting my dog.
Next time something bad happens in your life… try and see the potential for goodness. Try and turn your tragedy into triumph. Ricochet taught me how to do this, and I hope this mutt'amorphosis will teach you too.
Judy
If you'd like to donate to the surfboard initiative & have your funds go to the "Save a dog, save a warrior campaign, please click here.
PUPDATE: The pawmazing SurfTech gave us an additional discount on the board, so the total purchase price is $514. The additional $81 was allocated to the "Save a dog, save a warrior" fundraiser.
We created “Team Ricki” stickers that each surfboard donor will receive. A sticker will also go on the surfboard to represent the connection between Ricochet, the board, the donors, and of course those that ride with her.
DONORS (these donors are also included in the "Save a dog, save a warrior" fundraiser
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Sharon G Abee
Kathryn Ardoline Lynn Asdell Rebecca Attkisson Linda Barnes Mary Barrow Lynn Barry Melissa Barthold Donaly Bass Leigh Bayer Belle Roche Estate Jewelry of Encinitas Katherine Bennett Kathy Bennett Judith Best Elizabeth Bezak Kristi Blackburn Karen Bloom Isabella Blue Patricia Brandt Joy Brawner Debra Brumbaugh Stefani Bubbi Burgundy Laurie Caffenberry Kathy Cannon Danielle Carter Cindy Chavez Michaela Clayton Edith Cleveland Susan Coggan Kerry Collins Teresa Connor Kathryn Contento Patricia Cook Daisy, Belle & Twitch Monica D'Antoni Jane Davis Linda Davis Cheryl Deane Alice Diech Linda Dieball Tina Diedrichsen Maria Donohue Dani Dorresteyn Barbara Ehrlich Rebecca Elder Ginger Elliott Faith Emens Christie Eppler Diana Essert Linda Evans Joanne Felman Heather Field Jennifer Fisher Flying "B" Animal Transport Rita Flynn Mitzi Frank Alyssa Gallagher Bradley Gill Bella Rose Gillum Vernon Gilmore Courtney Gordon Casey Gorman Danna Grumbles Kathleen Gunn Lori Muir-Gutierrez Janice Halash Dawn Harris Pamela Hawkins Peggy Hayes Mary Heffington Judith Henry Kristina Herpich |
Carol Hill
Diane Hill Janice Hobbs Rayne Holmes Pamela Hosch Patricia Huey Patti Cakes Huffman Janelle Hutt Valerie Imes Debra Webb Ivy Lori Jager Heidi Jennings Janis Jones Randi Jurgens Ingrid Kardynalski Shelley Keys Anita Korblik Kay Ladner Gabriella Landry Sylvia Lang Heather Langley Jenna Lavaliere Karen Levitt Susan Lewis Kim Lillstrung Ann Lindahl Michelle Lingan Maureen Litterio Mary Jo Lobao James Lynch Marcy, Oreo & Citgo Sandy Maurer Dena McCallum Nancy Michelson Debbie Milford Amy Miller Debra Miller Karen Mitchell Donna Mizerek Pualeilani Monds Max Moore Laura Morrison Steven Mueller Donald Mullin MYHRECO Elyse Napolitano Barbara Nelson Emily Nolan Victoria Orcutt Dan Palmer Patricia Peddy Debbie Pendleton Ariana Pensy Tammy Phipps Justus Pingree Anne Place Dawn Pope Ruth Popek Kathleen Prazenka Debbie Puskas Helene Quick Michael Rabatin Laurie Radmer Kristi Ralph Olivia Ray Kristie Reeves Lillian Lee Reitz Rescue Me Collars |
Leah Richardson
Margarete Richmond Patricia Riggert Regina Rizzolo Mary Roberts James Robertson Linda Robertson Jeannie Rogers Eric Rojas Stefanie Rose Gerry Rosenberg Donna Ryan Connie Samuel Carol Santeramo Melissa Scarfo Diane Schneider Sarah Schuck Heather Scozzarella Jerilyn Seer Cheryl Sheppard Kylie Shinholt Lorena Shute Linda Sidor Simple Elegance Lauren Skarnulis Debra Wohlrab Skinner Julia Skinner Alison Smart Janice Smith Stefani Smyth Dawn Sorrento Fred Stein Jacqueline Storey La Donna Storrer Ramona Rodriguez-Surdez Cynthia Tadlock Tonya Taul Alejandra Tescher Emily Tester Laurie Thomas Susan Thomas Karen Thumm Becky Timmons Tine Enterprises John Tomlinson Susan Vopat Tara TrainorSheran Voss Kellie Webb Sandra Weiner Kathy Whitlinger Michelle Winschel Cheryl Wonnell Lisa Woodburn Susan Young Carrie Zirbel Eva Zoeller |
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