Maui Fire Disaster Aid for Cheri Duncan

Team fundraiser

Megan Riffe and Davalynn Opsahl are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Cheryl Duncan.

Donation protected

On August 8, a wildfire caused by high winds from Hurricane Dora ripped through Cheri's town of Lahaina unexpectedly and she had no warning to evacuate. She could only grab her three precious pets and an overnight bag and barely made it out alive as the flames leaped into her yard. She narrowly escaped through the smoke and ash to safety. Many people did not make it out alive and we are so beyond grateful that she is safe and unharmed along with her brother Ayrton who had just moved to Maui, her dog Romeo, and her cats Olive and Oslo.

However, she lost EVERYTHING. Every piece of clothing, dish, toiletry, memento, and comfort item is gone. Her home is in ashes. The Lahaina General Store where she was working as general manager is gone. It will be a long time before the tourist business comes back for her photography job on the boats. The bus that she was so close to completing renovations on to open as a coffee truck business is completely destroyed along with one of the vehicles that she rented through Turo. She is unemployed and all of her side incomes have come to a halt. We all know how hard Cheri works to follow her dreams and how she has meticulously cultivated every part of her home and life. It's all gone.

They have a temporary place to stay for a few weeks in upcountry Maui but will need long-term housing and to completely rebuild her life piece by piece.

The best thing that anyone can do to help is to donate whatever funds they have to spare. These funds will be used for housing, clothing, food, and other immediate needs for Cheri and her little family. Funds will go directly to Cheri's bank account. There are so many people in Maui in need right now but anything that you can give to Cheri helps tremendously.

This fundraiser is being managed by Cheri's mom Davalynn and her best friend Megan Riffe.

A plea from Cheri's mom, Davalynn:

"Cheri is a tenacious, strong, kind hearted fighter with a beautiful spirit. She does not want to leave Maui. She said, ‘I can't leave here. So many people need help. This is my home and I want to stay and help rebuild.’ Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Please help Cheri to realize her next dream, rebuilding."