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drunk driver changed my life

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Hello, my name is Matt. In 2009 I was struck by a drunk driver while broke down on the side of the road. He received his 12th dui that night and his 13th the night he set bail. (Only received 18 month in jail) I was standing in front of my truck when he went off the road at over 60mph and struck the back of my truck. It immediately shattered my femur and folded me over the hood causing alot of problems with my head. I bounced, rolled and then was run over by the front wheel of my truck. Another gentleman had stopped to help me and was pinned between his truck and mine. The tow hitch was the only reason he is still alive. After this accident my already complicated life was changed forever (I have been battling lupus for years) I can't walk without constant pain, a bad limp, horrible headaches, memory loss etc... but the worst of all was the loss of the thing I loved most in life. The ability to ride a motorcycle. I tried so many times after the long recovery but after getting into 2 motorcycle accidents because of my leg I gave up for ever. BUT I DID NOT FAIL! I took my 2001 honda shadow and cut it apart in my uncles garage and built a handy capable trike to keep me in the wind. I road it for 3 summers and did numerous charity rides and spread my story about the dangers of drinking and driving. Sadly the extra weight was 2 much for the bikes transmission and I couldn't afford to keep repairing it. So that was it. Game over. Until this year when the polaris slingshot came out! I was so excited! All the sadness went away and I was once again filled with hope of having the wind in my hair!!!! Now onto why I am asking for help. Flat out. I am nobody special. There are so many other people in the world that have it worse and need it more. iv lived my life as a helper and not the one that wanted help but it's just not going to happen anymore. Thanks to a loving family and the best friends anyone could ask for I am able to pay my bills and survive. I could absolutely buy a new trike in the next 4 years as I continue to save every penny I can but just like anyone else I would love help. I would use the trike to make as many charity rides as possible. I don't need all the money. If this gets me only $1 that's still one dollar closer to putting me back in the wind and bringing back the part of my life that was so swiftly taken away. and maybe just maybe my story will get out there and save a life. Make someone think about reading this before getting behind the wheel. It's not a joke. It's not rite down the corner. It's a serious matter that deserves serious attention. I should have died on the road that night. And because I didn't I want my 2nd chance at life to give someone else a 2nd chance as well. Thanks for reading. And please stay safe people.







Organizer

Matt Cherrington
Organizer
Girard, OH

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