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A letter of thanks |
As many of you know, this past August, I had a very bad accident while riding my bike in Kamloops, B.C. It left me with shattered heels and I required extensive surgery including the insertion of lots of stainless steel (three plates and 19 screws, to be exact). I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Four months in a wheelchair, without being able to bear weight, is quite the trip. I watched my legs shrivel to the size of my arms, and my arms grow to almost the size of my old legs from lugging myself around in the chair.
It’s been 7+ months now since I had the accident and I’m just starting to walk with the use of canes, and have been riding on the seawall and around North Vancouver to begin building stamina and strength. I still attend physio regularly as well as visit some of the Rec. Centres here on the North Shore - swimming laps and working out in the gym. For those of you who know me, you know that I’ve been in very good spirits during my time laid up. The attitude has been my greatest asset. The doctors say that I’m about 3 months ahead of schedule and I’m starting to improve really quickly now.
"Go on, pull my finger." Darren Butler working on Drop In last summer.
First of all, I want to thank everyone who was involved in the Riders Anonymous fundraiser at The Avalon in North Van. Hoots Jay, Dave Moody at Pathways, Gonzalo Ledezma from the Sanctuary Foundation, The Avalon (Ruben Schumacher), nsmb.com, and most importantly the people that came out to check out the flick and make donations to my recovery fund as well as 2 solid groups, the DirtClub and Pathways. For those curious, the funds that went to my recovery fund were used to pay for casts, part of my wheelchair rental, prescriptions, and a gym pass to get back into shape.
I want to thank Johnny Smoke, who stepped up for me big time, as well as John Starsevic, for the bass guitar (What a gift!!). I obviously want to thank my parents, as well as my surgeon, Dr. Jamie Dunwoody. The medical system isn’t in a shambles, I was treated phenomenally by the nursing staff at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and the Lion’s Gate Hospital in North Van. They treated me like family. Elladee Brown, props to you girl. Props to Wade Simmons as well, for the great ping pong. I would also like to thank Peter Stace-Smith at Norco for the beautiful 2003 4by.
Huge props go out to Byron Grey and Mike Kinrade for keeping me in check while waiting for an ambulance and still believing in me today, brothers for life. Thank you, MPF Productions (Riders Anonymous, Second Coming) for handlng the footage of my accident in such a tasteful manner. I obviously want to thank each and every one of my friends who’ve not only helped me with all the little errands, but also kept me entertained and motivated (you know who you are!). Even bigger props to my girlfriend Kelli, who has not only put up with me, but stood proudly beside me for the last 7 months.
I would like to thank Cam McRae and Rich Vigurs for their heart and effort that they put into NSMB, as well as Radek and the gang at PinkBike. Support anything and everything you can that stands for biking of any kind, trail access, local business, parks, kids, peace, music and freedom. Support your local bike shop, props to John Henry for helping me get back on my feet, literally.
Most importantly, though, I want to thank all of you keen kids out there for believing in your dreams. The kids these days have some amazing talent, and I feel blessed to be able to witness the movement. The Freeride movement is full of life right now, and the kids are the ones bringin’ it. Keep chargin’, keep progressing… visualize, visualize, visualize. Believe in your dreams!
The word is, that I should be on the trails and at the bike parks this summer and I hope to get the chance to ride with many of you. It’s going to take a while before I’m strong and rippin’, but you know what they say………”It’s just like riding a bike!”
Thanks for all the love and support, you rule!
See ya on the trails,
