Matt’s Fundraiser:

[MattTheAquaman]

Hello Everyone,
The fundraiser was a great success, thanks to all of you. There were a lot of people (approx 140) who showed up for the fundraiser to show their support, and a lot who couldn’t make it but still showed support. We raised approx. $9,000 for my project. This amount will make it possible for me to be able to pay for more of the equipment that I need.

I finally was able to meet so many of my diving friends in person. It was like a party all w/e. It was so awesome to meet a celebrity like John Chatterton, he is a great guy. It was great to meet my partner in all of this, Mike Lombardi and his partner, Donny. Another great highlight was to finally get to meet one of my best dive buddies, Susan Long, from DUI. Meeting Melanie Paul from Deep Sea Detectives was great too. The diveheart crew was there also and it was so great to meet some of them in person. Not to mention how great it was to see again some of my local dive friends, Drew and Frank. Thanks too, to Polly, Blaise and Blaine for being so supportive of my dream.

I was on Fox news last evening.

My first open water dive is scheduled to be on June 17th and 18th of this year, at the DUI demo days in Black River Falls, WI at Wazee Lake. Some of my friends are already talking about having another fundraiser there too. Sometime this year also I am hoping to do my ocean dive in Key Largo, FL.

Attached are a few pics from the fundraiser on 2/18/06. http://matt55125.tripod.com/scuba/

Again thank you to everyone. None of this would have been possible without you.

Matt

[FW]

That is great Matt, glad to hear it was so successful.

[IowaCaveDiver]

Hey Matt,
I hope you have an extra thick set of drysuit underwear.... I dove lake wazee last spring for some deco training and I've never been so cold! However, if you're diving there in the spring and I would guess you'll be checking out some of sites above the thermocline, you should be cool. Good luck, its been great tracking your story. My brother was paralized (quadraplegic) four years ago and fortunatly was able to learn to walk again and has regained about 90% of his abiliities. He went on to graduate medical shool and is now doing his internship in rehabiliation medicine... so believe it or not, nothing can stop somebody who puts their mind to doing whatever it is they want to accomplish. I bought him an OW class after he got out of the hospital, and while he completed all the pool and class room training and did exceptionally well... his lazy butt never got around to doing his open water checkout dives! Maybe you can drop him a note for me and give him a hard time.. after all, if you can do it, there is no excuse for him! Take care Matt, and good luck!

-Matt Myers

[JDostal]

Awesome to hear Matt. Sorry I couldn't make it, but at least got a little donation your way.

Looking forward to being out at the lake for your open water dives this summer!

[MattTheAquaman]

Yes, the fundraiser was great. It was so great to hang out with John Chatterton and my dive friends.

Take care,

Matt

[MattTheAquaman]

Thanks Matt for the words of advice. I will definately not be past the thermocline. I am so excited to hit the water at Wazee. It will be awsome.

You are so right, if I can do it anybody can do it. I guess some of us just want it more than others.

Take care,

Matt

[MattTheAquaman]

Omicron,

That's alright that you couldn't make the fundraiser event. Your donation is greatly appreciated. I still look forward to meeting you this summer at Wazee.

Take care and again thanks,

Matt