REMEMBERING TOM

REMEMBERING TOM ...

Nearly a year ago, our son, Tom died tragically in a floatplane crash in Alaska. It has been a very difficult time for us. We have been trying to think how we can best honor Tom’s memory of his life in his favorite place on earth Alaska. In cooperation with Joyanna Geiser, Director of The Independent Living Center in Homer, AK, we have developed a Tom Beatty Memorial Fund to support Alaskans with disabilities. Tom was the Director of their TRAILS program where he enabled folks with disabilities to have fun learning to enjoy the outdoors through fishing, kayaking, skiing and other activities. His love of adventure, teaching new skills, and his unique ability to encourage people of all abilities to expand their horizons gave so many a new outlook on life. His good-natured manner gave people confidence in themselves and immense satisfaction in achievements they never thought possible.

One example, a young man named Greg was paralyzed from the waist down from an auto accident as a teenager. Down on life and close to giving up, Tom encouraged Greg to learn to ski at the Aleyeska Ski Resort in a special device called a “mono ski” “You can sit on the couch or come out on the slopes”, Tom would challenge. With natural ability, Greg soon mastered the ski so well that Tom took him to the Paralympic Training Center in Vail 2007. The trip was funded by The Independent Living Center. Although crushed by Tom’s death, Greg returned again to Vail in 2008 and has committed himself to move to Colorado to continue training for the Paralympics. His training and equipment will benefit from Tom’s Memorial Fund.

Greg wrote us in an email “Tom was such a big influence on my life. He gave me back the thing I needed the most - hope.”

Tom believed that everyone, no matter their disability must take responsibility as their part in learning new challenges. This fund will enable The Independent Living Center to sponsor individuals like Greg and many others willing to take that responsibility to turn their disabilities into new found abilities.

We ask your support in this endeavor by making a contribution to The Independent Living Center. The enclosed brochure elaborates on the fund and its purpose. We also enclose a small copy of the Memorial Citation created by the Alaska State Legislature in recognition of Tom’s remarkable work with the people of Alaska.

signed by Russ and Jane