Kelly Talamantes No one can slow down Kelly Talamantes of Fort Worth. Moving from Florida with her husband and two children, they were well settled until one night in April of 2017. Returning home from an evening out, a young driver turned in front of, and struck, Kelly and her husband. The resulting collision sent…
Shane Hultine Shane was born in rural Illinois and attended local community college before moving up to Northern Illinois University. He acquired a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technologies and Management. He then moved to Aurora, Illinois to work as an assistant manager at a local production facility. Things were on the right track for Shane…
Brandon “Shane” Crider Brandon “Shane” Crider had a rough start from the beginning. His mother passed away when he was only 6. Thus, leaving him in the alternating care of his father and grandparents. From early on, he developed a strong work ethic and a mentality of, “If I don’t do it, it won’t get…
Ryan Lambert of Waco, Texas was on the fast-track to athletic success. An accomplished high school football player, Ryan Lambert had been negotiating with a number of colleges about signing on to play. However, nothing could prepare Ryan or his family for the tragedy that occurred in his junior year. He had been driving to…
Retired Technical Sgt. Matt McCollor, US Air Force “I was diagnosed with MS in the year 2000, in my 14th year of service in the Air Force. I was medically retired in 2004, after 18 years, 2 months and 17 days of military service. When I was diagnosed, I wasn’t sure what that meant…
Hunter Heck In the early hours of October 6, 2012, Hunter Heck was walking with his cousin on his way to a friend’s apartment. Hunter, a junior at Miami University, had recently found his niche in the campus gymnastics club and had just left a party the group was putting on that night. Up to…
Cory Cook Cory Cook met another Dive Pirate while working as a Re-Walk ambassador, and has always thought about diving. So he applied to the Foundation and joined us on our June 2019 trip to Cayman Brac. In 2012 Cory dove into shallow water, fracturing his C-7 vertebrae, causing paraplegia. After intense therapy and rehabilitation, Cory is…
Steve Holbert Retired Corporal Steve Holbert, US Marines, joined the Marines right out of high school at age 17. He spent four years serving his country as an avionics technician. He then left the marines and continued the same occupation as a civilian. All the while pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot. Eventually working his…
Louise Estabrook Louise Estabrook first snorkeled on her honeymoon and fell in love with the water. Later, she did try scuba and knew someday she would see the world below. Now, she is now dealing with a progressive neurological disease. It is an inherited condition that started affecting her motor control when she turned 50. Retiring…
Brian “Pat” Kipf It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of 2018 recipient Brian “Pat” Kipf. We met him in 2017 when he applied to the foundation. Pat and his wife Shelia were selling their business and planning to move to Florida so Pat could be near his beloved…