Special Olympics Road to Abu Dhabi
Donation protected
Hello
All Funds raised on this Gofundme are in Canadian Dollars and will go to the Special Olympics
St. Kitts & Nevis to help pay the Air Transportation and accommodations for St. Kitts & Nevis Special Olympians.
Nov. 8/2018 Our New Mission
Help Dionte and our Special Olympian's go for the Gold at the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi.
My name is Barry (Toronto Canada) and for Canada's 150 Birthday I decided to collect 150 Tennis racquets for the Children of St. Kitts and Nevis. Canada has had long enjoyed a close relationship well before 1983 and even stronger relationship since 1983 when these beautiful islands became an independent Federation. In Feb 2018 I reached my goal of 150 Tennis Racquets, balls, 19 pairs of shoes and tennis apparel. A few days before we had the hand off of the tennis equipment to the Minister of Sport the Honorable Shawn Richards I was introduces to a young man named Dionte, a 1 legged tennis player.
Dionte is a Gold Medal Special Olympics winner in Tennis. He did this in a lot of pain. The reason was because after the Special Olympics he was diagnosed with 4th stage Bone Cancer. I know the kind of pain he went through because I care gave my brother with bone cancer. My brother did not make it but Dionte fought and beat the cancer but lost his leg to it. As you can see in the YouTube video Dionte is back on the court and wanting to represent St. Kitts & Nevis again. He is need of a prosthetics leg not only for tennis but to get back to a more normal and productive life.
Dionte is warm hearted and has a positive attitude, no matter the situation.
He is a inspiration to young and old to never give up.
September 29/2018.
Dionte is on his way back to St. Kitts with a new leg and a new life.
Thank you to all tennis lovers from Canada, St. Kitts and the USA.
Together we made this miracle happen
Love to all
Barry
Update Sept 23/18
Dionte and Ivor arrive 1am in Kentucky. This morning he see the Dr.
This is awesome.
Update Sept 19/18
Hello all,
Its a all go for Dionte to travel to Kentucky for his leg fitting!! Everything is getting in place....confirmation of appointments training etc.
We are scheduled to depart St Kitts on September 22 and arrive in Louisville around 11:30 pm, Once all goes well we should be back in St Kitts on September 29.
This is expected to full week of activity .... should I say hectic frenzy of activities for Dionte, in addition to his leg fitting appointments at the Lee Specialty Clinic the following have been arranged so far:
Dental Appointment - Confirmed
CT Scan - TBC
Tennis Practice Sessions - with Meg Peavy, University of Louisville, Wed-Fri twice daily, am/pm. TBC shortly.
Will update on Dionte's journey to a new life...
Hello everyone: UPDATE Sept 8/18
I am filled with joy to report that the road to getting
Dionte a new leg has started. Read below
We have added up all the Donations from Canada
and St. Kitts & Nevis. After exchange charges from Bank we have about $4300.00.
We are now checking the costs for transportation/housing costs while in Kentucky.
Dionte is now in training ... see video ...
[9/6, 13:11] Dr Matthew Holder: Ok. We’ll work that in. We have a spot open on Tuesday at 1pm. Matt and Wayne, will that time slot interfere with anything you might have planned for him related to the prosthesis? We may be able to find some other times to work in a dental visit at the clinic.
[9/6, 18:49] Wayne Luckett: No problem with the dental care. That will work for me. I’d like to see Dionte 9am Monday September 24 at my downtown office Louisville Prosthetics 742 East Broadway. Dr Adamkin has him at 12:30 at Lee clinic. I’ll have him back afterwards if ok. If all goes as planned we’re walking 9am Tuesday morning on the prototype prosthetic. Wednesday morning we’ll work on gait training and fine tuning fit and alignment. Wednesday afternoon will be as needed. My lab will complete the final fabrication by Thursday 9am. We’re also trying to get some court time and instruction at U of L for Thursday/Friday. I will be available all week and quite flexible w scheduling
Hello everyone. Big Update: Thanks to a lot of work by Rusty and everyone and a Special
Thank you to Ivor Blake ... he was our Miracle that I thought we would need to complete
this Mission to get Dionte a Leg.
A company in Kentucky is donating a leg. So now we just need to raise enough
money to send Dionte (have to see if he can travel alone or with his Mom). The air far is about $1000.00USD and then we need money for accommodations and living expenses. We are hoping this will not come to more than $5000.00USD.
We are also weighting to see how much the Ministry of
Health will be able to contribute.
Please help get the word out ... we are almost there.
thank you to all
God Bless you all
Barry
Update: July 26-28 There will be a Tennis Tournament at Warner Park Basseterre St. Kitts for Dionte.
Udate: August 10
The Tournament for Dionte in St. Kitts was a Big success. A big thank you goes out
to Watkins and everyone at the SKNTA. We also want to thank the Marriott for there
donation of Prizes. Thank you Kevis Taylor...
We raised a Total of $ 2329.00 EC or about $1130.00 Canadian dollars.
MORE Photos Below
St. Kitts dose not have the facilities to make a leg or fit it for him. After much searching I was able to find a company here in Toronto Canada by the name of ProstheticEnergy INC. that was willing to help Dionte.
Because Dionte lost his leg above the knee which makes the costs much more.
Ottobock which manufacture the parts needed and ProstheticEnergy have kindly said that they would help
by providing some discount on the work done.
We need funds to pay for the leg, Air fair to Toronto and 2 to 4 weeks living expenses while here.
Success is not measured by how much money you make.
It is about making a Positive difference in Peoples Lives.
At Warner Park
Hard times in the hospital not knowing if he would make it.
He has worn out his crouches
This is the poster I did that Rusty will be trying to put in Basseterre businesses, sport bars and anywhere people can see it. If you know a good place to put up let us know. We are also looking
for places to put up in Toronto.
Thanking you in advance for helping us put Dionte back on the court. Help us get the word out by putting a link
on your FaceBook.
All Funds raised on this Gofundme are in Canadian Dollars and will go to the Special Olympics
St. Kitts & Nevis to help pay the Air Transportation and accommodations for St. Kitts & Nevis Special Olympians.
Nov. 8/2018 Our New Mission
Help Dionte and our Special Olympian's go for the Gold at the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi.
My name is Barry (Toronto Canada) and for Canada's 150 Birthday I decided to collect 150 Tennis racquets for the Children of St. Kitts and Nevis. Canada has had long enjoyed a close relationship well before 1983 and even stronger relationship since 1983 when these beautiful islands became an independent Federation. In Feb 2018 I reached my goal of 150 Tennis Racquets, balls, 19 pairs of shoes and tennis apparel. A few days before we had the hand off of the tennis equipment to the Minister of Sport the Honorable Shawn Richards I was introduces to a young man named Dionte, a 1 legged tennis player.
Dionte is a Gold Medal Special Olympics winner in Tennis. He did this in a lot of pain. The reason was because after the Special Olympics he was diagnosed with 4th stage Bone Cancer. I know the kind of pain he went through because I care gave my brother with bone cancer. My brother did not make it but Dionte fought and beat the cancer but lost his leg to it. As you can see in the YouTube video Dionte is back on the court and wanting to represent St. Kitts & Nevis again. He is need of a prosthetics leg not only for tennis but to get back to a more normal and productive life.
Dionte is warm hearted and has a positive attitude, no matter the situation.
He is a inspiration to young and old to never give up.
September 29/2018.
Dionte is on his way back to St. Kitts with a new leg and a new life.
Thank you to all tennis lovers from Canada, St. Kitts and the USA.
Together we made this miracle happen
Love to all
Barry
Update Sept 23/18
Dionte and Ivor arrive 1am in Kentucky. This morning he see the Dr.
This is awesome.
Update Sept 19/18
Hello all,
Its a all go for Dionte to travel to Kentucky for his leg fitting!! Everything is getting in place....confirmation of appointments training etc.
We are scheduled to depart St Kitts on September 22 and arrive in Louisville around 11:30 pm, Once all goes well we should be back in St Kitts on September 29.
This is expected to full week of activity .... should I say hectic frenzy of activities for Dionte, in addition to his leg fitting appointments at the Lee Specialty Clinic the following have been arranged so far:
Dental Appointment - Confirmed
CT Scan - TBC
Tennis Practice Sessions - with Meg Peavy, University of Louisville, Wed-Fri twice daily, am/pm. TBC shortly.
Will update on Dionte's journey to a new life...
Hello everyone: UPDATE Sept 8/18
I am filled with joy to report that the road to getting
Dionte a new leg has started. Read below
We have added up all the Donations from Canada
and St. Kitts & Nevis. After exchange charges from Bank we have about $4300.00.
We are now checking the costs for transportation/housing costs while in Kentucky.
Dionte is now in training ... see video ...
[9/6, 13:11] Dr Matthew Holder: Ok. We’ll work that in. We have a spot open on Tuesday at 1pm. Matt and Wayne, will that time slot interfere with anything you might have planned for him related to the prosthesis? We may be able to find some other times to work in a dental visit at the clinic.
[9/6, 18:49] Wayne Luckett: No problem with the dental care. That will work for me. I’d like to see Dionte 9am Monday September 24 at my downtown office Louisville Prosthetics 742 East Broadway. Dr Adamkin has him at 12:30 at Lee clinic. I’ll have him back afterwards if ok. If all goes as planned we’re walking 9am Tuesday morning on the prototype prosthetic. Wednesday morning we’ll work on gait training and fine tuning fit and alignment. Wednesday afternoon will be as needed. My lab will complete the final fabrication by Thursday 9am. We’re also trying to get some court time and instruction at U of L for Thursday/Friday. I will be available all week and quite flexible w scheduling
Hello everyone. Big Update: Thanks to a lot of work by Rusty and everyone and a Special
Thank you to Ivor Blake ... he was our Miracle that I thought we would need to complete
this Mission to get Dionte a Leg.
A company in Kentucky is donating a leg. So now we just need to raise enough
money to send Dionte (have to see if he can travel alone or with his Mom). The air far is about $1000.00USD and then we need money for accommodations and living expenses. We are hoping this will not come to more than $5000.00USD.
We are also weighting to see how much the Ministry of
Health will be able to contribute.
Please help get the word out ... we are almost there.
thank you to all
God Bless you all
Barry
Update: July 26-28 There will be a Tennis Tournament at Warner Park Basseterre St. Kitts for Dionte.
Udate: August 10
The Tournament for Dionte in St. Kitts was a Big success. A big thank you goes out
to Watkins and everyone at the SKNTA. We also want to thank the Marriott for there
donation of Prizes. Thank you Kevis Taylor...
We raised a Total of $ 2329.00 EC or about $1130.00 Canadian dollars.
MORE Photos Below
St. Kitts dose not have the facilities to make a leg or fit it for him. After much searching I was able to find a company here in Toronto Canada by the name of ProstheticEnergy INC. that was willing to help Dionte.
Because Dionte lost his leg above the knee which makes the costs much more.
Ottobock which manufacture the parts needed and ProstheticEnergy have kindly said that they would help
by providing some discount on the work done.
We need funds to pay for the leg, Air fair to Toronto and 2 to 4 weeks living expenses while here.
Success is not measured by how much money you make.
It is about making a Positive difference in Peoples Lives.
At Warner ParkHard times in the hospital not knowing if he would make it.
He has worn out his crouches
This is the poster I did that Rusty will be trying to put in Basseterre businesses, sport bars and anywhere people can see it. If you know a good place to put up let us know. We are also looking
for places to put up in Toronto.
Thanking you in advance for helping us put Dionte back on the court. Help us get the word out by putting a link
on your FaceBook.
Organizer
Michael Barry Jacobson
Organizer