ACCESS ADVENTURE VOLUNTEER

I was born January of 1956 in Columbus, Ohio. I spent most of my childhood in Puyallup, WA. In high school I was named ‘All State Football Defensive lineman’ two years in a row. At Everett College in Washington my second year I fractured my neck and gave up football. Since then I have been a roofer, carpenter, cabinet builder, truck driver, insurance adjuster and now a fifty year old college student. I qualified for Honor Roll on the National Deans List with a GPA of 3.7. AND I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! Over the years I have had major problems, including obesity. In 2001 I went through gastric bypass surgery and have lost 254 pounds.

I cherish animals and love making people laugh. It is my belief that an animal can cure a lot of things such as loneliness, heart ache, boredom and any blue state you can be in. When I was lost it was the love of a puppy that made me care about life again. I needed Access Adventure as much or more than they needed me. Working with the animals and the people who come out and enjoy what we have to offer gives me great pleasure. I get the greatest feeling inside when the passengers are laughing, yelling and just having a good time. It means they get to escape from everyday woes.

Access Adventure is a blessing to me and has come into my life at the best time possible. I pray that someday there will be an Access Adventure or more programs like it everywhere.

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